Demoralised’ by SC observations, Allahabad HC judge seeks removal from bail roster

A judge of the Allahabad High Court has sought to be relieved from hearing bail matters , citing the “demoralising and chilling effect” of recent observations made by the Supreme Court of India while overturning one of his orders.

Justice Pankaj Bhatia of the Lucknow Bench on Friday recused himself from hearing bail pleas and requested the Chief Justice of the High Court to withdraw the bail roster assigned to him. The judge declined to hear a bail application filed by Rakesh Tiwari and made his request in open court.

“Although it is well known that there is no judge who can claim that his order has never been set aside or interfered with, the observations made by the Supreme Court, particularly in paragraphs 4 and 29, have had a huge demoralising and chilling effect on me,” Justice Bhatia said.

The development follows a February 9 verdict of the Supreme Court in a case filed by Chetram Verma , challenging a bail order granted on October 10, 2025 . The High Court had granted bail to an accused in a dowry death case , in which his wife had died due to asphyxia caused by strangulation .

The accused had been in judicial custody since July 27, 2025 and had no prior criminal history, factors that were noted while granting bail. However, setting aside the order, the apex court termed it “one of the most shocking and disappointing orders” it had encountered and questioned the exercise of judicial discretion in a serious offence such as dowry death.

The Supreme Court also directed that a copy of its judgment be forwarded to the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court for perusal regarding the manner in which the bail order had been passed.

Referring to these observations, Justice Bhatia said he was “not inclined to take up bail matters any further” and urged that such cases not be allocated to him .

Justice Bhatia has been handling criminal matters, including bail applications and criminal appeals, at the Lucknow Bench. Legal observers note that while judicial orders are frequently overturned, it is rare for a judge to publicly cite the personal and professional impact of appellate court criticism, making the episode significant within legal circles.