Probe molestation charge against magistrate: HC

The Allahabad High Court has ordered a fact-finding inquiry into the allegations of molestation against an additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM) in Gonda, made by two girls who had appeared before him for recording their statements on Monday.

Sources said Justice Sudhir Agarwal, the high court's administrative judge for Gonda, has asked district judge Umesh Singh to conduct an inquiry and submit a report by Saturday.

The Bar Association of Gonda district court has decided to boycott the court of the ACJM. Gonda Bar Association president Ravi Chandra Tripathi said the lawyers met the district judge and handed over a memorandum over the incident. He said the district judge informed them that he had ordered an inquiry by Special Judge (EC Act) Sant Ram.

"The lawyers asked that the inquiry be completed by January 28 and if found guilty the magistrate be terminated from service," said Tripathi. The lawyers will hold a meeting on January 28 to decide the future course. Till then, they till not work in the court of the accused.

Navneet Kumar Rana, SP of Gonda, had written to the district judge on Wednesday after the two girls complained to him, alleging that the magistrate had molested them. He said both girls were produced before the ACJM separately to record their statements.

The girls were allegedly kidnapped and separate cases of kidnapping were lodged at different police stations. After the girls were found, the police produced them before the magistrate on Monday.

The girls alleged the magistrate inappropriately touched and molested them in his cabin.

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