CHANDIGARH, May 18: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has suspended Vibha Rana, Civil Judge (Junior Division), Ludhiana, in connection with a complaint filed last year—marking the latest in a string of disciplinary actions taken against judicial officers as part of an intensified internal accountability initiative.
The suspension, which came following a vigilance inquiry, was ordered under Article 235 of the Constitution and the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules. The action relates to a complaint submitted by residents of Delhi on April 28, 2023, though the specific allegations remain undisclosed.
Rana has been assigned headquarters in Moga during her suspension and is restricted from leaving the station without the approval of the District and Sessions Judge.
The order was passed by the Chief Justice and companion judges of the high court and comes amid a broader institutional effort, led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, to clamp down on misconduct and inefficiency within the judiciary. Since Nagu’s appointment on July 9 last year, ten judicial officers—four in Punjab and six in Haryana—have been subjected to disciplinary measures, including four dismissals and six suspensions.
“These decisions are the result of full court meetings where appointments, promotions, transfers and disciplinary proceedings are deliberated upon,” said a court official. “This is not just a disciplinary wave, it’s an institutional message.
At a time when the conduct of the judiciary is under increasing public scrutiny, these measures serve not only as deterrents, but as institutional affirmations that the justice delivery system will hold its own officers to the highest standards.”
In the past two years, the high court has initiated action against over two dozen judicial officers, signaling a marked shift toward transparency and accountability within the subordinate judiciary.
The pace of proceedings, observers note, reflects a conscious push to combat corruption, indiscipline, and complacency—long-standing concerns that have challenged public faith in the judicial system.
