In a rare occurence in the history of judicial services in the state, a judge sat on satyagraha at Jabalpur High Court of Madhya Pradesh. Additional District and Sessions Judge, R.K. Sriwas, posted as officer on special duty (OSD) in the High Court sat on a day-long satyagrah today to protest against his four transfers in last 15 months.
In a five-page statement, Judge Sriwas said that he had exhausted all his opportunities after he presented his case before the chief justice and registrar general of the court. He said that he wanted to take this issue before the public to show how a judicial officer was being treated.
He said was not allowed to protest inside the High Court premises, so he sat in front of the High Court building in Jabalpur. He said that he was even ready to go to jail.
Sriwas was recently transferred to Neemuch from Jabalpur. He said normally district level judges are not transferred in the middle of academic session of their children. However I have been subjected to four transfers in last 15 months without caring for the education of my children who have to change schools frequently, he said in the press note.
He said his transfer was against the established policy. Sriwas had also cleared a departmental exam for promotion to higher level. However, according to him, he is yet to be promoted.
He told media that his act may cost him his job, but he is ready to take the risk as he wants to highlight the plight of judicial officials who work under immense pressure in small places.
