Ranchi, June 11: The Supreme Court was informed on Wednesday that a woman Additional District Judge (ADJ) from Jharkhand, who had approached the top court after her request for child care leave was rejected despite being a single parent, has now been granted partial relief by the Jharkhand High Court.
The update was provided during the hearing of Kashika M Prasad vs State of Jharkhand before a bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that while the High Court has now sanctioned child care leave, the duration granted is significantly less than what was initially requested. “I have been given leave for 92 days. I had sought for 194 days,” the counsel said, adding that the approved leave is for the months from June to September, although the original application was for a period beginning in December.
“I have been given leave for 92 days. I had sought for 194 days,” the counsel said, adding that the approved leave is for the months from June to September, although the original application was for a period beginning in December.
ACR After SC Petition A notable development in the proceedings was the petitioner’s grievance regarding her Annual Confidential Report (ACR). The ADJ’s counsel informed the Court that certain entries, which she found to be “disturbing,” were recorded after she moved the Supreme Court.
“Now there are some entries in my ACR. Which I have brought on record. They were subsequent to me filing the writ petition. I am an officer belonging to SC category and disposed of a huge number of cases. One of the best performing officers. There are suggestive entries made during performance counselling,” the counsel submitted.
He further pointed out that these entries were communicated to the judge on May 23, shortly after she filed her writ petition.
The Court, however, clarified that these allegations were not part of the main prayer and directed the petitioner to file a separate application seeking specific directions.
“File a substantive prayer. It’s an application for directions. We’ll direct them to file a counter,” the Bench observed.
