Photo Courtesy: nenow
Gangtok: The Sikkim High Court suspended Mangan District and Sessions Judge Prajwal Khatiwada on November 4. The Full Court issued the order after reviewing Khatiwada's responses to two show-cause notices. Officials deemed his explanations insufficient. They ruled his presence in office incompatible with proper justice administration.
Khatiwada previously moved the Supreme Court. He claimed targeted harassment following a December 12, 2025, complaint he filed against a then-serving High Court judge. He alleged that administrative backlash began once that judge became Acting Chief Justice. On September 9, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed Khatiwada to pursue his case through the High Court.
Disciplinary charges center on Khatiwada's stint as Registrar General. He allegedly granted improper promotions and appointments, causing an estimated Rs 1.64 crore loss to the state. Other charges include failing to file his Annual Confidential Report and conduct unbecoming of an officer. The order also references an August 6 communication where Khatiwada challenged witness examinations during a vigilance probe.
Khatiwada defended his actions across 33 charges. He argued that he acted under the Chief Justice's authority per Article 229 of the Constitution. He noted that Departmental Promotion Committee recommendations backed his decisions. "The disputed service decisions fell within the Chief Justice’s authority under Article 229 of the Constitution and were not independently taken by him," Khatiwada stated in his defense. He further claimed authorities withheld key documents and denied him adequate time to respond to the allegations.
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