The Supreme Court of India on Monday, 12th January, put a hold on a Madhya Pradesh High Court order that had directed the reinstatement of a judicial officer who was removed from service for serious misconduct during a train journey in 2018. Calling the officer’s behaviour “disgusting” and “the gravest form of misconduct,” the apex court made it clear that such actions cannot be ignored.
“Disgusting”: Supreme Court on Madhya Pradesh civil judge allegedly urinating in train compartment
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) January 12, 2026
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A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice on an appeal filed by the Registrar General, challenging the High Court’s order of 6th May 2025. Reacting sharply during the hearing, Justice Sandeep Mehta said the conduct crossed all limits, pointing out that the officer urinated inside the train compartment when a woman passenger was present.
The case relates to an incident which took place on 16th June, 2018, when the officer, a Class-II Civil Judge, was travelling from Bhopal to Jabalpur on the Indore Jabalpur Overnight Express. During the journey, he consumed alcohol, created chaos inside Coach A-1, abused fellow passengers and the train ticket examiner, and interfered with the TTE’s duties. Due to the disturbance, passengers pulled the emergency chain, causing the train to stop and resulting in a delay.
Passengers also complained that the officer showed his identity card and urinated on the berth of another traveller while intoxicated. Following these complaints, railway authorities de-boarded him at Pipariya and registered a case under Section 145 of the Railways Act. He was arrested but released on bail the same day, as the offence was bailable.
Apart from the criminal case, a departmental inquiry was initiated against him for travelling without permission from his controlling officer or the district judge, and for failing to inform his seniors about his arrest. The inquiry found him guilty, and the Administrative Committee recommended his removal from service. This decision was approved by the Madhya Pradesh High Court on 24th September, 2019.
In the criminal proceedings, however, the Special Railway Magistrate in Jabalpur acquitted him on March 23, 2019. The court noted that key witnesses, including the TTE and the woman passenger, did not support the prosecution. The magistrate also recorded that the medical test did not show alcohol in his body.
The officer later challenged his dismissal before the High Court. A Division Bench led by then Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait ruled that his acquittal was based on a full examination of evidence and not due to technical reasons. Setting aside the termination order, the High Court said the punishment was excessive and arbitrary.
It also described his failure to inform seniors about the trip and arrest as procedural lapses and omissions, not deliberate suppression.
The Supreme Court, has now stayed that order, firmly stating that such conduct by a judicial officer cannot be brushed aside. With the stay in place, the officer will not be reinstated for now, as the apex court continues to hear the appeal.
