The Chief Justice of India (CJI) has sought the views of Justice P.D. Rajan, a Judge of the Kerala High Court, on a complaint made by a police officer against him.
The complaint alleges that the Judge summoned the police officer to his chambers and threatened him with dire consequences over a case involving a relative.
This incident was supposed to have taken place in November 2016.
The police officer had complained to both the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court.
Any action, if necessary, on the complaint would be taken only after Justice Rajan's views — which would be kept confidential — are received.
The CJI can set up a committee of possibly two Chief Justices for a preliminary internal enquiry into the complaint, if required, after getting the Judge's views.
A separate way for investigation into allegations of misbehaviour or incapacity of a judge is detailed in Section 3 of the Judges (Inquiry) Act.
Under this, if a motion is passed by not less than 50 parliamentarians in Rajya Sabha or 100 in Lok Sabha, the Chairman or the Speaker, respectively, as the case may be, may form a panel consisting of the Chief Justice or judges of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of a High Court and a distinguished jurist to probe the allegations against a sitting judge.