Chief Justice of India allows CBI to file FIR against Justice Shukla of Allahabad HC under Prevention of Corruption Act

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Ranjan Gogoi has permitted the CBI to lodge an FIR against Justice SN Shukla of Allahabad High Court, Lucknow bench, under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).

Former Chief Justice of India Deepak Misra had ordered a preliminary inquiry against Justice Shukla after receiving a complaint from UP Advocate General, Raghvendra Singh, who had accused the judge of serious judicial misconduct.

Later, an in-house panel was constituted by the then CJI comprising three High Court Chief Justices to inquire into the allegations.

The panel had found Justice Shukla guilty of giving favours to a private medical college by extending deadline for MBBS admission of students. 

The order by Justice Shukla violated a Supreme Court order.

Justice Shukla was reportedly also asked to resign or take voluntary retirement by the former Chief Justice Dipak Misra. However, Shukla declined following which judicial work was withdrawn from him in 2018.

The CBI had written to the Chief Justice Gogoi seeking permission to investigate Justice Shukla in the case. It may be noted that a case cannot be filed against a sitting judge without the permission of the Chief Justice of India.