Amravati judge suspended

The Bombay high court on Tuesday suspended ad-hoc district judge and additional sessions judge of Amravati, T.G. Bansod as the HC is contemplating disciplinary action against him. This is the second suspension of a judge in a span of two months. According to sources from Amravati, the high court has received complaints against Bansod for having passed an unfair order in a murder case. He had allegedly demanded money from the complainant in the Gawli murder case, in order to pass a judgment in his favour. When the complainant refused to pay, he made a similar proposal to the four accused in the case, following which he acquitted them of all charges in the case. The notification, on the website of the Bombay high court, was issued and signed by the registrar general of Bombay high court, S.B. Shukre. It said that disciplinary action is contemplated against Bansod. Thus, the chief justice of Bombay high court Mohit Shah and other judges, comprising the “disciplinary authority”, (under the Maharashtra Civil Services), have suspended Bansod. A notification said that during the period of the suspension, Bansod will have to remain in the Amravati headquarters and will not leave the quarters without obtaining permission from the principal district judge of Amravati. During the period of suspension, Bansod will receive subsistence allowance. The notification further remarked, “It is not permissible for Bansod to accept private employment or do a business, while he is under suspension. If, while under suspension, he accepts any private employment or does a business, then he will be guilty of misconduct and will be liable to be dealt with accordingly. He is also liable in that case to forfeit his claim for subsistence allowance.”