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In the case of Manoj Soni v. State of Madhya Pradesh, the High court has directed the removal of lock from the official residence of a judge. CJM Soni was reportedly booked for sexual assault on June 13 after a woman government official accused him of raping her repeatedly at his official residence after promising to marry her. The woman has alleged that the Judge subsequently refused to marry after he was promised a dowry of Rs. 2 crore by the family of another woman.
The CJM denied the allegations and during the course of the hearing informed the bench that his official residence was sealed on June 27 by Mr. Riyaz Iqbal, Superintendent of Police, Panna.
The Supreme Court held that any action against any judicial officer cannot be taken without the prior permission of the High court. Putting an additional lock on his residence was, therefore, viewed as depriving the CJM of his “right of residence”. Any such action would be violation of an earlier Supreme Court ruling in DJSA v. State of Gujarat.
Hence, the court ordered the police removal of the lock forthwith.
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