New Delhi, 01 October (H.S.): The Supreme Court has observed that everyone is equal before the law while declining to direct the Allahabad High Court to give priority to a plea challenging the alleged illegal dismissal of a former district judge from service.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said that it made no difference whether the person concerned was a peon or the Chief Secretary of a state. Every individual is entitled to equal access to justice, the Bench observed.

Former Uttar Pradesh judge Rakesh Kumar Nain has challenged his dismissal from service, and his writ petition is currently pending before the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court granted him liberty to approach the High Court itself with a request for an early hearing.

The Allahabad High Court had found Rakesh Kumar Nain guilty of allegations of judicial misconduct and corruption. Nain had served as a Special Judge hearing cases under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Nain had filed a petition before the Allahabad High Court challenging his dismissal from judicial service, and the matter remains pending. Dissatisfied with the delay in the proceedings before the High Court, he subsequently approached the Supreme Court seeking relief.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar