Nirbhay Singh Suliya vs State of Madhya Pradesh 2026 INSC 7 - Judiciary - Disciplinary Proceedings - Wrong Order

Disciplinary Proceedings - Judiciary - Only because an order is wrong or there is an error of judgment, without anything more, a judicial officer is not put through the ordeal of a disciplinary proceeding or a prosecution. (Para 29) It is not the correctness of the verdict but the conduct of the Officer in question which is determinative. (Para 34) Disciplinary Authority has to examine whether there has emerged from the record, one or more circumstances that indicate that the decision which forms the basis of the charge of misconduct was not an honest exercise of judicial power. (Para 36) That merely because a different conclusion was possible is not an indicium for misconduct. (Para 39)

Judiciary - Judges - A fearless judge is the bedrock of an independent judiciary, as much as an independent judiciary itself is the foundation on which rule of law rests. A judicial Officer is tasked with the onerous duty of deciding cases. Invariably one party to the case would lose and go back unhappy. Disgruntled elements amongst them, wanting to settle scores may raise frivolous allegations. (Para 27)