The Allahabad High Court appointed Deepak Kumar Jaiswal as the new Chief Judicial Magistrate of Sambhal amid a major judicial reshuffle in Uttar Pradesh. The appointment follows recent transfers linked to sensitive orders in the 2024 Sambhal violence case.
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UTTAR PRADESH: The Allahabad High Court has appointed Deepak Kumar Jaiswal as the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Sambhal, merely three days after Aditya Singh was transferred to the same post, triggering renewed discussion within legal circles over the rapid reshuffle.
Earlier, Aditya Singh had replaced Vibhanshu Sudheer, who was transferred and appointed as Civil Judge (Senior Division), Sultanpur. Following the latest order, Singh has now been posted as Civil Judge (Senior Division), Sambhal.
ALSO READ: 2024 Sambhal Violence: Judge Who Ordered FIR Against Cops, Transferred Thrice in 8 Months
According to a notification issued by the Allahabad High Court on Friday, as many as 633 judicial officers have been transferred across Uttar Pradesh. The transfers include officers holding the posts of:
- Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM)
- Judicial Magistrate
- Civil Judge (Senior Division)
- Civil Judge (Junior Division)
The large-scale administrative reshuffle is part of the High Court’s routine judicial administration and cadre management.
Background
The transfer has drawn attention due to the role played by Vibhanshu Sudheer during his tenure as CJM, Sambhal. In November 2024, Sudheer had ordered the registration of an FIR against police personnel allegedly involved in violence that occurred in Sambhal.
Following his transfer to Sultanpur, lawyers at the Sambhal district court staged protests, expressing concern over the timing of the move and its possible implications on judicial independence.
On January 9, Sudheer allowed a complaint alleging that a man’s son, Alam, was shot by police near the Sambhal Jama Masjid during communal unrest, holding that the allegations required a criminal investigation.
Following the order, the Uttar Pradesh Police announced its intention to challenge the direction. Sudheer was subsequently transferred from Sambhal to Sultanpur as Civil Judge (Senior Division) under a January 20 notification of the Allahabad High Court. The transfer drew criticism from opposition parties and lawyers, who alleged political pressure and staged protests, terming the move an attack on judicial independence.
Initially, judicial officer Aditya Singh was slated to replace Sudheer, but a modified transfer order issued on January 22 retained Singh at Chandausi and appointed Deepak Kumar Jaiswal as the new CJM, Sambhal.