Supreme Court Condemns Rajasthan Government’s Actions
The Supreme Court of India has strongly criticized the Rajasthan government for its politically influenced decision to prosecute a government doctor in a corruption case, despite having previously refused sanction for such prosecution. The case, State of Rajasthan & Ors. v. Dev Kant Meena, highlights concerns over political interference in legal proceedings.
Legal Background and Court Observations
A Bench comprised of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice K Vinod Chandran criticized the Rajasthan government for changing its stance without any new evidence, suggesting that political pressures were the likely cause. Drawing a parallel to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the Court remarked that the decision-making process should not waver like Hamlet’s dilemma, underlining that such vacillation indicates undue influence. On July 23, the Court stated, “The decision-making process under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 cannot resemble the dilemma in ‘Hamlet’s Soliloquy’: ‘to be or not to be’.”
Details of the Allegations
The case arose from accusations in 2017 that a government doctor demanded a bribe ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹6,000 for a knee surgery. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) claimed multiple payments were made over several days, and ₹2,000 was allegedly recovered during a sting operation on March 29, 2017. Initially, the Rajasthan government’s officials determined that the evidence was insufficient to prove bribery demands or acceptance, suggesting the phone calls related to surgical implant costs rather than bribes.
Reconsideration and Legal Challenges
Despite these findings, the case was re-evaluated by a joint secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office without any new evidence. Although the Department of Personnel again advised against granting sanction, prosecution was ultimately sanctioned. The doctor then contested this decision in the Rajasthan High Court, which quashed the sanction due to the lack of new evidence justifying a reversal. The State appealed the High Court’s decision to the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court’s Decision and Criticism
The Supreme Court affirmed the High Court’s ruling, emphasizing the protective nature of Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act against unjust prosecutions of public servants. The Court highlighted repeated doubts raised by the State’s own officials about the case. The Supreme Court stated, “We find absolutely no reason to interfere with the impugned order, and we deprecate such instances bringing out interference leading to unnecessary harassment of public officers discharging public duties.”
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Conclusion and Financial Penalty
The Supreme Court ordered the Rajasthan government to pay ₹50,000 in costs each to both the High Court and the Supreme Court, totaling ₹1 lakh. The Court condemned the State’s pursuit of the case despite the High Court’s decision, noting it was an unwarranted and politically motivated action. The petition was dismissed, and the costs are to be paid within two months.
