Shikhar Chemicals vs State Of Uttar Pradesh 2025 INSC 945 - Directions Against HC Judge Recalled

Judiciary - Chief Justice of a High Court is the master of the roster- When matters raise institutional concerns affecting the rule of law, this Court may be compelled to step in and take corrective steps. (Para 9) The High Courts are not separate islands that can be disassociated from this Institution (Para 5) The endeavour of the High Courts should always be to uphold the rule of law and maintain institutional credibility. If the Rule of Law is not maintained or protected within the court itself, then that would be the end of the entire justice delivery system in the country. (Para 11) [Context: Supreme Court recalls the following directions it had issued in an order viz. (1) The Chief Justice of High Court shall immediately withdraw the present criminal determination from the concerned Judge and (2) The Chief Justice shall make the concerned judge sit in a Division Bench with a seasoned senior judge of the High Court and observed: Our intention was not to cause embarrassment or cast aspersions on the concerned Judge. We would not even think of doing so. However, when matters cross the threshold and the dignity of the institution is imperiled, it becomes the constitutional responsibility of this Court to intervene, even when acting under its appellate jurisdiction under Article 136 of the Constitution -Since a request has been made in writing by Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India, and in due deference to the same, we hereby delete paras 25 and 26 respectively from our order dated 4th August, 2025. The order be corrected accordingly.