SODHI SUKHDEV SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS case has been placed before us because a learned Single Judge of this Court, before whom the matter came up in the first instance, considered it to be of importance and not free from difficulty.

(2.) SODHI Sukhdev Singh the plaintiff, who is now the petitioner in this Court, was a District and sessions Judge in the erstwhile State of Pepsu. On the basis of certain alleged complaints a preliminary inquiry was ordered into his conduct as a result of which he was suspended by H. H. the Rajpramukh. After further inquiry he was removed from service on 7th April 1953 after the necessary show-cause notice. His representation against his removal was rejected by the government in March, 1956. In the present suit he has sought declaration that the order of his removal from service was illegal, ultra vires and inoperative and that he still continues to be in the service of the defendant (i. e. , the Government of Punjab ). He has also claimed a sum of about rs. 62,7000/ -.

(3.) DURING the course of the proceedings he summoned various documents from the defendant, some of which were produced, but in respect of the following documents privilege was claimed: