Madhya Pradesh HC takes cognisance of death threats to Muslim judge after lynching verdict

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday took suo moto cognisance of death threats and communal abuse directed at a Muslim judge in Narmadapuram district after she convicted seven men in a 2022 case where a truck driver was assaulted by a group that claimed he was a cattle smuggler, Live Law reported on Friday.

On June 12, Additional District and Sessions Judge Tabassum Khan sentenced seven men for killing truck driver Sheikh Lala Nazir Ahmed in Barakhar village of Seoni Malwa tehsil.

Soon after, videos containing death threats and communal slurs were shared on social media. Videos also showed effigies of the judge being burnt in some of the protests.

On Wednesday, a division bench observed that such actions undermine judicial independence. The court directed that the Khan should continue to receive police protection as an interim measure.

Threats against judges “directly hampers the judicial independence and fearless working of our judicial officers”, Live Law quoted the bench of Justices Vivek Agarwal and Avanindra Kumar Singh as observing.

The court also directed the Madhya Pradesh director general of police and the additional chief secretary or principal secretary (home) to file personal affidavits detailing the steps taken to ensure Khan’s security and the action taken against those responsible for the threats.

The bench observed that judicial orders are subject...

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