New Delhi: The Delhi High Court suspended two judicial officers in quick succession after finding prima facie evidence of misconduct against them.In an order dated July 15, but made public on Friday, the high court administration communicated the suspension of Justice Veena Rani with immediate effect.The decisions on Rani and also Justice Vinay Singhal’s suspension on July 10 were taken earlier in a full court meeting. It was also decided to initiate a disciplinary investigation against them.Justice Rani’s name figured in a 2018 high court order when a division bench took cognizance of allegations of “forum shopping” involving her and two other judges, who have since retired.The court ordered that certain parties’ intellectual property rights claims not be brought before it and others. The high court’s order followed a contempt plea alleging that some litigants had indulged in “forum shopping”. They had repeatedly filed applications to have their IPR cases listed before some specific trial court judges.In 2019, a bench headed by Justice Manmohan (now a Supreme Court judge) directed the high court registry to place the matter before the then chief justice on the administrative side with a request for a committee of officials or judges of the high court to examine all allegations of “forum shopping” against Justice Rani and the other two judges.“If the allegations are found to be correct, then the Hon’ble Chief Justice will take action in accordance with law,” the court observed.The judicial administration subsequently began investigating the allegations. This culminated in the latest order, announcing disciplinary proceedings against the judge, sources said.It emerged that Justice Singhal was suspended after a vigilance probe led the Chief Justice to act against allegations of misconduct in the process of appointing judicial auctioneers.“Disciplinary proceedings are contemplated against Mr. Vinay Singhal, an officer of the Delhi Higher Judicial Service,” the resolution said. “This court…hereby suspends the said Mr. Vinay Singhal with immediate effect.”Both judges will remain attached to their respective district judge offices and will not be able to leave the city without permission.
