The Supreme Court has directed the Registrar General of the Allahabad High Court to initiate a preliminary inquiry against a judicial officer after the concerned trial court repeatedly failed to submit status reports sought by the Court.
The order was passed on August 24, 2026, by a bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Shree Chandrashekhara in Farid Ahmad Khan v. Gyan Chand Mogha (Dead) Thr. LRs & Ors.
Background
The Supreme Court had earlier, on February 25, 2020, directed that the trial be concluded expeditiously within one year. However, the trial remained pending. On January 19, 2026, the Court sought a report from the trial court, but the report was not submitted within the prescribed time.
The Registrar General of the Allahabad High Court was subsequently asked to ensure that the report was sent. A report was eventually received, following which the Supreme Court directed on May 12, 2026, that the trial be completed within six months and that a status report be submitted by August 21.
On August 24, the Court noted that the required report had again not been received.
“Today also, report from the trial court is not received. This is the third occasion where the concerned trial court has failed to submit report as sought by this Court.”
In view of the repeated failure, the Supreme Court directed the Registrar General of the Allahabad High Court to initiate a preliminary inquiry against the concerned judicial officer and submit its report within 15 days.
The matter has been listed for September 21, 2026. The Court said it would consider initiating a departmental inquiry based on the preliminary report.
