Indian judge quits in open court, says he can't work against self-respect

A JUDGE in a top court in India on Friday (4) resigned from job in a courtroom saying he could not compromise on self-respect, a lawyer who was present on the scene said.

Justice Rohit Deo, who practised in the Bombay high court, said he was quitting due to personal reasons. He announced his decision in his courtroom in Nagpur in the western state of Maharashtra where the court has a bench. He also apologised to everybody who were present in the courtroom.

The matters listed before him for the day stood discharged following the announcement, PTI reported.

"Those who are present in the court, I apologise to each one of you. I scolded you because I want you to improve. I don't want to hurt anyone of you because you all are like family to me and I am sorry to tell you that I have submitted my resignation. I can't work against my self-respect. You people work hard," Justice Deo was quoted as saying in the courtroom by the lawyer.

Speaking to reporters later, the judge said he has quit due to personal reasons and sent his resignation letter to the president of India.

In 2022, Justice Deo acquitted former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba in an alleged Maoist-links case, setting aside the life imprisonment awarded to him and noting that the trial proceedings were null and void in the absence of valid sanction under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The Supreme Court later stayed the order and ordered the Nagpur bench of the High Court to hear the case afresh.

Last week, Justice Deo stayed the operation of a Maharashtra Government Resolution (order) of January 3 through which the state was empowered to cancel punitive proceedings initiated by the revenue department related to the illegal excavation of minor minerals by contractors engaged in the construction of the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway.

Justice Deo was appointed as a judge of the Bombay High Court in June 2017 and was due to retire in December 2025.

Before that, he was the advocate general of Maharashtra in 2016.

(With PTI inputs)