On 18th March, Madras High Court upholds suspension of former additional district judge A Rajasekaran for participation in a controversial ‘conference call’ with former Kanchi seer, Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, prime accused in a murder case.
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CHENNAI: Yesterday(on 18th March),The Madras High Court made headlines by upholding the suspension of former additional district judge A Rajasekaran. The suspension came as a result of his involvement in a controversial ‘conference call’ with the former Kanchi seer, Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, who was the prime accused in a murder case.
The bench, comprising Justice SM Subramaniam and K Rajasekar, delivered a definitive judgment by dismissing Rajasekaran’s writ petition. Rajasekaran had filed the petition last year, contesting his suspension and asserting his entitlement to regular retirement and pension benefits.
The court conducted a comprehensive and methodical investigation into the issue, assigning an administrative committee to scrutinize voice samples from the contentious call along with other evidence. Their conclusions were unambiguous: Rajasekaran had actively engaged in the conference call with Saraswathi and one of his associates. Such involvement was considered incompatible with the expected standards for someone in his judicial capacity, resulting in his suspension.
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The High Court’s order was resolute and clear:
“Finally, concerning the severity of the penalty, we find that Judicial Officers are held to a high standard of integrity. In this case, charges 1 and 4 against the petitioner were proven, both of which are serious and relate to the integrity and honesty expected of a Judicial Officer. Hence, the dismissal from service as a punishment is deemed appropriate considering the gravity of the proven charges. Therefore, we decline to intervene in the severity of the penalty. Consequently, the current writ petition is dismissed, with no costs awarded. The related miscellaneous petition is also dismissed.”
This traces back to 2011, a tumultuous period when Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi and his heir apparent were embroiled in allegations surrounding the murder of Sankar Raman at the Kanchi Mutt. Despite Saraswathi’s acquittal in 2013, the shadow of the case lingered, culminating in the suspension of Rajasekaran.
When lawyers S Doraiswamy and P Sundarrajan approached the Madras High Court, advocating for a case to be registered against Rajasekaran. They provided a CD containing the audio recording of the contentious conference call, sparking a series of investigations and legal proceedings.
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Rajasekaran faced professional adversity when he was suspended on March 14, 2013, following an initial inquiry by the High Court. This suspension not only disrupted his career but also prevented him from retiring with dignity at the standard age. He remained in a state of uncertainty until the Tamil Nadu government made its final decision on November 7, 2022.
ORDER PRONOUNCED ON: 18-03-2024