Uttarakhand police seek nod to prosecute judge who slapped cop

The judge behaved like a common man, unnecessarily abused cops, manhandled them and obstructed govt work.

Uttarakhand police have sought permission from the Allahabad HC to prosecute a lower-court judge who allegedly misbehaved with personnel and even slapped a cop on duty.

Superintendent of police (city) Pradeep Rai said on Thursday that state police had written to the registrar general of the Allahabad high court for permission to lodge a complaint against Jaya Pathak, 48-year-old principal judge in Uttar Pradesh.

A purported video of the incident, shot earlier this week by a police official, went viral on social media. Police have attached the video as evidence with the letter.

“The judge behaved like a common man, unnecessarily abused cops, manhandled them and obstructed government work” the official communication read, a copy is which is with Hindustan Times. The judge couldn’t be contacted for a comment.

Rai said “police will lodge case against the judge once the registrar general gives nod”. As per law, sanction is mandatory from the competent authority to lodge a complaint and probe a government official.

Pathak had come to the Premnagar police station on September 12 with her son who is enrolled in University of Petroleum and Energy Studies. Police say they brought the students to the police station after they clashed first on Monday and again on Tuesday.

In a video that went viral, Jaya Pathak is purportedly seen slapping a cop while others asking her to behave. “Are you a judge? Will you do this to us?” a police official is seen shouting at the judge. “Why is he recording me,” she allegedly retorts in the 30-second clip.