Supreme Court Stays Lokpal Order on HC Judge

Published on 10 Oct 2025

• The Supreme Court is hearing a case against a Lokpal order that took up a corruption complaint against a High Court judge.

• Section 14 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, outlines the jurisdiction of the Lokpal, the national ombudsman, specifying which individuals and entities are subject to its investigation.

• This includes the Prime Minister (with certain restrictions), Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, and group A, B, C and D union officials. 

• Section 14 of the Lokpal Act allows it to probe bodies created by Acts of Parliament. 

• Lokpal argued High Courts fall under this, unlike the Supreme Court, which is constitutionally created under article 124

• However, the SC, invoking Article 32, took suo motu cognisance, warning of the executive probing the judiciary. 

• It noted all High Court judges take oath under the Constitution and thus fall outside Lokpal’s ambit.

• Section 15 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023 states that a judge cannot be charged with an offence if the allegation is related to the exercise of her official duties. 

• In K. Veeraswamy v. Union of India (1991), a five-judge Constitution Bench held that judges are public servants under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. 

• It also ruled that no criminal complaint can be registered against a High Court or Supreme Court judge without prior consultation with the Chief Justice of India.

Keywords:

Supreme Court Stays Lokpal Order on HC Judge Lokpal corruption anti-corruption Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act Prevention of Corruption Act public servant