Dehradun: In a significant development for judicial transparency, the Uttarakhand High Court has disclosed that 258 complaints were filed against judges and judicial officers of the subordinate judiciary between January 2020 and April 2025.
The disclosure was made by the High Court’s vigilance cell following directions from the Uttarakhand State Information Commission, marking what legal experts describe as a rare instance of a High Court making aggregate data on judicial complaints public.
RTI Filed by Sanjiv Chaturvedi
The information was obtained by a 2002-batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) Sanjiv Chaturvedi, a Magsaysay Award-winning officer known for his work on transparency and anti-corruption.
Chaturvedi had filed a Right to Information (RTI) application in May 2023 seeking:
- Details of authorities responsible for handling corruption complaints against judicial officers
- The number of complaints received
However, the High Court’s Public Information Officer (PIO) initially rejected the request, citing “confidentiality” and “third-party information.” Even a first appeal failed to secure the data.
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State Information Commission’s Intervention
The matter progressed only after intervention by State Chief Information Commissioner Radha Raturi.
During the hearing, the High Court’s PIO maintained that specific details of complaints could not be shared but agreed that overall statistics could be disclosed with the approval of the Chief Justice.
In January this year, the Commission directed the PIO to obtain clearance and provide the data. It ruled that disclosing the “aggregate number” of complaints would strike a balance between judicial confidentiality and the public’s right to know.
What the Data Reveals
According to the High Court’s response under the RTI Act:
- 258 complaints were filed between January 2020 and April 2025.
- Formal action has been initiated against four judicial officers out of these complaints.
The disclosure does not provide details of the nature of complaints or the identities of the officers involved.
A Rare Step Toward Judicial Transparency
Legal experts believe this disclosure could set a precedent for other High Courts.
Senior Advocate Sanjay Chawla termed the development a “significant milestone” in judicial accountability.
He noted that several other High Courts, including:
- Delhi High Court
- Madras High Court
- Chhattisgarh High Court
have previously declined to share similar aggregate data.
If so, the Uttarakhand High Court may be the first in the country to make such overall complaint statistics public.
Broader Implications
Judicial misconduct complaints are typically handled through internal vigilance mechanisms and are rarely discussed publicly. By allowing aggregate disclosure, the High Court has attempted to maintain institutional integrity while addressing transparency concerns.
For transparency advocates, the development underscores the role of the RTI Act and information commissions in ensuring accountability across institutions — including the judiciary.
The disclosure also marks another significant effort by Sanjiv Chaturvedi, whose career has been associated with exposing corruption and strengthening transparency in public institutions.
