Early life
Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari, now elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on August 31, 2021, was born on June 29, 1961 in a small town Joura, District Morena (M.P.). He graduated in Arts in 1982 and passed LL.B. in 1985 and completed LL.M in 1991. He got himself enrolled as an Advocate with the State Bar Council of Madhya Pradesh on November 22, 1985 and practiced in Civil, Criminal, Constitutional, Service and Tax matters. He was the elected member of the M.P. State Bar Council.
He was appointed as Additional Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh on November 25, 2005 and on November 25, 2008, appointed as permanent Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. He has been a part of various committees, pertaining to betterment of administration of High court of Madhya Pradesh and continued his good offices till October 06 ,2019.He was transferred as Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court and assumed office on October 07, 2019. He was the First Chief Justice of the newly established Andhra Pradesh High Court.
Later, he was transferred as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim on January 06, 2021. He is due to retire on June 29, 2026.1
He is known for his humble nature and diligent attitude. In his farewell speech from the Andhra Pradesh High Court he got very emotional and gave all the credits to his counterparts, colleagues and staff. He in his speech with utmost humility stated that ” I have done nothing, in fact the credit has come to me by those who deserve credit”.2
Did You Know? There was no Bungalow for Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh, he had identified and got completed the construction of Chief Justice Bungalow at Vijaywada Andhra Pradesh.3
Let’s take a look at his notable judgments:
Supreme Court
Union of India v. Methu Meda, (2022) 1 SCC 1 [Appointment]
It was held that if a person is acquitted giving him the benefit of doubt, from the charge of an offence involving moral turpitude or because the witnesses turned hostile, it would not automatically entitle him for the employment, that too in disciplined force. The employer is having a right to consider his candidature in terms of the circulars issued by the Screening Committee. The mere disclosure of the offences alleged and the result of the trial is not sufficient. In the said situation, the employer cannot be compelled to give appointment to the candidate. Both the Single Bench and the Division Bench of the High Court have not considered the said legal position.
Vasudev v. State of M.P., (2022) 4 SCC 735 [Attempt to murder]
The High Court, while convicting the appellant by the impugned judgment [Rajesh v. State of M.P., 2020 SCC OnLine MP 4590], had merely observed that because the accused were prized goons and were absconding and as per the deposition, it could not be said that Appellant 2 was not involved because he was arrested on the spot and taken to police station. In this regard, the Court observed that the prosecution was required to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and the conviction cannot be based merely on the basis of presumption to rule out the presence of accused.
Gangadhar Narayan Nayak v. State of Karnataka, 2022 SCC OnLine SC 337 [Crimes Against Women and Children; Disclosure of victim’s identity]
The Appellant was the Editor of Karavali Munjavu Newspaper. On or about 27-10- 2017, a news report was published in the Newspaper, Karavali Munjavu, regarding the sexual harassment of a 16 year old girl. The victim was named in the said report. The Court reiterated that the entire object of provisions such as Section 228A of the IPC, 327(2) of the Cr.P.C., Section 74 of the JJ Act and Section 23 of POCSO is to prevent disclosure of the identity of the victim. The identity of the victim should not be discernible from any matter published in the media. Appeal was partly allowed.
Arcelormittal Nippon Steel (India) Ltd. v. Essar Bulk Terminal Ltd., (2022) 1 SCC 712 [Arbitration]
Division Bench comprising of Indira Banerjee and J.K. Maheshwari, JJ. held that once an Arbitral Tribunal is constituted, the court would not take up for consideration and apply its mind to an application for an interim measure, unless the remedy of applying to the arbitral tribunal for interim relief is inefficacious. However, this bar does not operate where already the application has been taken up for consideration and the court has applied its mind.
Pahwa Plastics (P) Ltd. v. Dastak NGO, 2022 SCC OnLine SC 362 [Environment Protection]
The Division Bench comprising of Indira Banerjee and J.K. Maheshwari, JJ., held that although to protect future generations and to ensure sustainable development, it is imperative that pollution laws be strictly enforced, were the adverse consequences of denial of ex post facto approval of Environment Clearance outweigh the consequences of regularization of operations by grant of ex post facto approval, and the establishment concerned otherwise conforms to the requisite pollution norms, ex post facto approval should be given in accordance with law, in strict conformity with the applicable Rules, Regulations and/or Notifications.
GPR Power Solutions (P) Ltd. v. Supriyo Chaudhuri, 2021 SCC OnLine SC 1328 [Limitation]
In a case relating to Corporate Insolvency, the Division Bench comprising of Indira Banerjee and J.K. Maheshwari, JJ., quashed the order of NCLAT rejecting the application under S. 60(5) of IBC. The Bench held that the NCLAT and NCLT had failed to consider the law laid down by the Court with regard to extension of limitation period due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Madhya Pradesh High Court
Supa v. Deepa, 2018 SCC OnLine MP 804
It was held that Appointment of a person accused in a criminal case was rightly rejected by appointing authority.
Afjal Khan v. State of M.P., 2019 SCC OnLine MP 1672
A Division Bench of J.K. Maheshwari and Anjuli Palo, JJ. partly allowed a criminal petition filed by a person accused of rape and murder of his minor daughter, and commuted his death penalty to life imprisonment. The Court drew a balance sheet of aggravating and mitigating circumstances to determine if the death penalty was adequate punishment. Aggravating circumstances: (i) extremely brutal, diabolic and cruel act; (ii) victim being six years was a minor and helpless; (iii) no provocation because the accused was in a dominating position; (iv) injuries were grievous with respect to sexual assault particularly in a case where the victim was the daughter of the appellant. Mitigating circumstances: (i) it was a case of circumstantial evidence; (ii) no evidence that the accused had the propensity of committing further crimes causing continuous threat to the society; (iii) no evidence to show that the accused could not be reformed or rehabilitated; (iv) other punishment options were open; (v) accused was not a professional killer or offender having any criminal antecedent; (vi) accused being a major having family with him, the possibility of reformation could not be ruled out.
Andhra Pradesh High Court
Did you know? During his tenure as the first Chief Justice of the newly formed Andhra Pradesh High Court, Justice Maheshwari too steps for the Establishment of Gram Nyayalayas at various stations in the State of Andhra Pradesh. He also disposed more than 4500 cases during the short span of 15 months4.
Taken UP v. State of A.P., 2020 SCC OnLine AP 137
A Division Bench of Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari, CJ and Lalitha Kanneganti, J., addressed certain PILs that were filed in regard to the LG Polymers poisonous gas leakage incident.
Petition was filed seeking direction or any appropriate writ calling for records relating to leakage of poisonous gas from LG Polymers factory at Visakhapatnam and further directing respondents to save lives of people in around the factory by providing necessary medical facilities.
Court passed the following interim directions:
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Premises to be completely seized and no one to be allowed including the Directors of the Company.
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Committee, if any, appointed wants to inspect premises, they are at liberty but shall put a not on Register maintained at the gate of the Company regarding the said inspection and a note while returning regarding what act done in premises.
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None of the assets movable or immovable, fixture, machinery and contents shall be allowed to be shifted without the leave of the Court.
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As stated before, Directors have surrendered their passport and they are in India, however, Court directs that their passports shall not be released without the leave of the Court and they be not allowed to go outside India without leave.
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It be also apprised whether, during the lockdown period, any permissions were obtained to restart the operations, if not, action taken report be filed.
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Grievance regarding appointment of various committees by NGT, Centre and State, Centre and State are at liberty to apprise as to which Committee shall fulfil the purpose.
Corona Virus-COVID-19 Pandemic v. Government of Andhra Pradesh, 2020 SCC OnLine AP 37
A Division Bench of Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari, CJ and M. Satyanarayana Murthy, J. addressed a Public Interest Litigation with regard to non-cooperation of staff at ASRAM Medical College, Eluru due to non-availability of WHO-approved Personal Protection Equipment.
Court asked the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Eluru and Advocate YMSRN Surya Teja to visit the said hospital and supply the following information:
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How many patients admitted in the hospital by this time
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Details of the ward where such patients have been admitted and whether isolation facility is available
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Who are the Doctors and Para-medical staff on duty to provide medical and other necessary item
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Whether the patients have been duly treated specifying the prescription and other precaution
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Whether the Government and the Dean in-charge is providing due care to those Doctors and Para-medical staff as specified in the WHO guidelines by changing their duties and providing them isolation
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Whether the Corona-positive patients are maintaining distance
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While submitting the aforesaid information, it be also clarified as to who are the Doctors and the Para-medical staff who were on duty at the time of admission of Corona-positive patients and suspect patients and also the who are the Doctors and Para-medical staff now on duty and treating them
Nandigam Suresh, In re, 2020 SCC OnLine AP 141
The Division Bench of Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari and C. Praveen Kumar, JJ., had issued contempt notices to as many as 49 persons which include several law makers. The Court was taking suo motu cognizance of the alleged contemptuous speeches/interviews/postings by these 49 persons against some Judges of the Supreme Court, Judges of the High Court and the High Court itself.
Bench noted that the comments made in the media posts and video clippings are wholly unwarranted and to scandalize or tend to scandalize the institution.
Considering the above Court issued Rule Nisi to the respondents/contemnors, who can be identified from the posts.
M. Janakirama Raju v. State of Andhra Pradesh, 2020 SCC OnLine AP 41
J.K. Maheshwari, CJ while providing an ad interim relief directed the State Authorities to permit vehicles transporting fishes and shrimps and include the same under the category of “essential supplies”.
Corona Virus – COVID-19 Pandemic v. State of Andhra Pradesh, 2020 SCC OnLine AP 64
Division Bench of J.K. Maheshwari, CJ and M. Satyanarayana Murthy, J. issued interim measures considering certain aspects in view of the nationwide lockdown due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
A.V. Badra Naga Seshayya v. State of A.P., 2020 SCC OnLine AP 509
A Division Bench of J.K. Maheshwari, CJ and B. Krishna Mohan, J., addressed a Public Interest Litigation wherein a direction was sought to declare the proclamation, attempt or conduct of Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission in not conducting any election/poll for any post where there is only a single candidate in the fray for such post in any constituency, during the ensuing elections to be held for the members of local governing bodies in lieu of notifications and thereby depriving the electors' of their right to vote in the form of NOTA against such single candidate.
Koilagandla Nirajnaj v. Union of India, 2020 SCC OnLine AP 65
A Division Bench of J.K. Maheshwari, CJ and M. Satyanarayana Murthy, J. asked the State Government to ensure provision of all required equipments to Doctors, Nurses, Ward Boys and Paramedical staff to combat COVID-19.
Sikkim High Court
Silajit Guha v. Sikkim University, 2021 SCC OnLine Sikk 80
The Court observed that in the facts of the case the ambit and scope of the workplace as specified in Section 2(o) of the Act can be decided after appreciation of the evidence brought before ICC, as considered by Single Bench. The Court opined that observation of Single Judge referring to Section 2(o) of the Act i.e. ‘workplace' its ambit and scope is not proper in particularly when the same question is permitted to be decided by the Executive Authority.
Therefore, the Court held that the finding on the point of jurisdiction explaining the definition of ‘workplace' was an inclusive one, stands set aside to such extent and the liberty is granted to the appellant to raise the said question before the Executive Authority who shall decide the same in accordance with the law.
Munni Devi v. Dul Dul Prasad, 2021 SCC OnLine Sikk 82
Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari, CJ. allowed a writ petition which was filed assailing the updated Award passed by the Lok Adalat. The Court held that in place of accepting the plea that the compromise by virtue of collusion and fraud and the Award so passed in the same fashion; but in view of the observation so made it is suffice to observe the Award so passed by the Lok Adalat in view of the pleadings of the suit without joining all the parties and without affording an opportunity is not proper. Writ Petition was allowed, the Award passed by the Lok Adalat was set aside.
Chandu Sherpa v. Sunita Rai, 2021 SCC OnLine Sikk 91
Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari, CJ, allowed the writ petitions which were arising out of the Order passed on 12-11-2019 in different suits allowing the application filed by the defendant under Order VIII Rule 1A (3) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. The Court allowing all the petitions held that merely by denial of the plaintiffs to the document having transaction with other persons by late Lakey Sherpa cannot be relevant to the merit of the present case setting aside the order passed by the Trial Court.
Discharge of Effluents by Pharma Companies, In re, 2021 SCC OnLine Sikk 101
The Division Bench of Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari and Meenakshi Madan Rai, JJ., heard a Public Interest Litigation relating to the issue of extraction of the groundwater through sufficient surface water was available in the State. The Court went on to find that the Central Ground Water Board and its Authorities had not specified reason for granting no objection for extracting the ground water and without such reason conditional permissions were granted. The Court stated that this type of functioning of the authority could not be appreciated.
State of Sikkim v. Dipen Subba, 2021 SCC OnLine Sikk 139
The Division Bench of Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari, CJ. and Meenakshi Madan Rai, J., dismissed a criminal leave petition noting that the prosecutrix being deaf and dumb who was not able to answer answer any of the questions as put forth to her and her evidence cannot be taken as an evidence of an eye witness.
Tara Prasad Sharma v. State of Sikkim, 2021 SCC OnLine Sikk 56
J.K. Maheshwari, CJ, dismissed a petition considering it to be bereft of merit which had sought to continue on the post of Civil Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate as he had been acquitted of the charge levelled against him under Section 468 of the IPC. The Court while considering the fact, that the resolution in question has not been challenged either on the basis of mala fide or on extraneous considerations or irrationality of the findings, therefore in the absence of the same considered interfering in it, unwarranted.
† Suchita Shukla, Editorial Assistant has put this report together
1. https://main.sci.gov.in/chief-justice-judges
2. https://youtu.be/n7dw1eqSBII