Judge's 'standing' punishment for peon for not driving private vehicle; High Court Registrar quashes sentence

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A court peon who refused to drive a judge's private vehicle has been ordered to 'stand' as punishment until the court proceedings are over. The High Court Registrar quashed the punishment of the peon in a complaint filed by the court employees' association against the Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Judge.

It is alleged that the judge asked Ramakrishnan, a native of Balaramapuram, who took charge on June 30, to drive his private car to the court. Ramakrishnan told the judge that he had not completed his driving training and was afraid to drive the car due to a previous accident. The complaint states that Ramakrishnan was then asked to go to the judge's house at 8.30 am and deliver the briefcase to the court. Ramakrishnan informed that his mother, who is suffering from cancer, has no one to help her and that going to the judge's house every day will cost him Rs 250 more. The complaint is that the judge then ordered Ramakrishnan to stand in the corner of the court every day until the court proceedings are over. The court employees' association filed a complaint with the High Court Registrar against this and found a solution.

According to the High Court Circular of 1983, it is part of the job of a peon to deliver breakfast and lunch to the chambers of judicial officers. The employees have complained that some officers are using peons to do their housework misusing this circular. The court employees are demanding that the circular be withdrawn. Judges have an allowance to hire a private driver in addition to the house rent allowance.