In a swift administrative reversal, the position of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in Sambhal has undergone another change, marking the second such shift within a mere three days. The latest development sees Aditya Singh, who had been appointed as CJM on January 20, transferred back to his original posting as Civil Judge (Senior Division) of Sambhal.
Notification Issued by Allahabad High Court
The order to send Aditya Singh back was part of a comprehensive notification issued by the Registrar General of the Allahabad High Court on Thursday night. This notification detailed the postings and transfers of 344 judicial officers across the region. Notably, some other officers besides Singh were also retransferred within three days of the January 20 shuffle, indicating a period of administrative fluidity.
Background of the Controversial Survey Order
Aditya Singh had previously gained attention for his role in ordering a survey of the Sambhal Jama Masjid on November 19. This order was based on a petition claiming that a temple had been demolished to build the mosque in 1526. The Sambhal Jama Masjid is considered the only known Babar-era mosque surviving in Uttar Pradesh after the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
The mosque committee contested the survey, arguing that the order was passed hastily on November 19 without giving them an opportunity to be heard. The first round of the survey was conducted on the same day, leading to significant controversy and subsequent violence in November 2024.
Previous CJM Transfer and Protests
Aditya Singh had been brought in to replace CJM Vibhanshu Sudheer, who had ordered the lodging of an FIR against policemen in connection with the Sambhal November 2024 violence. On January 9, Sudheer had directed the filing of an FIR against then Circle Officer (CO) of Sambhal City Anuj Chaudhary and other policemen over the death of a local youth, Alam, during the shooting. Police maintain that Alam was not killed by their bullet.
The transfer of Sudheer from the CJM, Sambhal, post to Civil Judge (Senior Division), Sultanpur, had sparked protests by lawyers at the district court. Lawyers had also protested against the replacement of Sudheer as CJM with Aditya Singh, highlighting the contentious nature of these judicial appointments.
Appointment of New CJM
With Aditya Singh's return to his original post, the new CJM of Sambhal is Deepak Kumar Jaiswal, who is currently serving as the CJM of Kaushambi district. This appointment aims to bring stability to the judicial administration in Sambhal following the recent upheavals.
The series of transfers and protests underscore the delicate balance between judicial independence and administrative oversight in sensitive cases. The events in Sambhal serve as a reminder of the broader implications of judicial decisions on community relations and public order.
