Court reserves order in judge’s termination case

NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court Friday reserved its order on a petition filed by a trial court judge challenging his termination by the Delhi government on charges of corruption.

Metropolitan Magistrate Gautam Kant Nimaan of the Rohini district court challanged the lieutenant governor’s order on the grounds that he was removed arbitrarily, which was against the principle of natural justice.

He also submitted that he had completed his probation and the termination was illegal.

Nimaan was terminated by the Delhi government following consultations with Delhi High Court Chief Justice Dipak Misra.

Hearing the submissions, Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Manmohan reserved their order in the case.

Three accused in a case were convicted and awarded six months jail terms. Nimaan had allegedly demanded Rs. 10 lakh from one of them in June to reduce their jail term, and the man recorded the conversation and handed it to a member of the Rohini Bar Association in July, an official said.

Nimaan had allegedly assured the accused that after getting the money, he would release the trio on probation under the Probation of Offenders Act, the official said. Under the act, the court has the power to release certain accused on probation.