New Delhi: Delhi High Court has suspended a district judge with immediate effect, pending disciplinary proceedings. District judge, south, Mohinder Virat, is suspended as a disciplinary proceeding is contemplated against him, the HC administration said in an order issued Tuesday.“It is further ordered that during the period that this order shall remain in force, the headquarters of Mohinder Virat shall be the office of principal district & sessions judge, south, Saket,” the order says, adding that Virat shall not leave Delhi without obtaining permission of the competent authority.TOI reached out to HC registrar general Reetesh Singh several times for comments, but there was no response.However, sources confirmed that the action had been taken over a recent incident involving the judge at a public place, of which there might also be CCTV footage. After the details were conveyed to the higher authorities, a decision to suspend the judicial officer was taken, they said.Virat was till last year on deputation to Delhi govt, where he served as special secretary, law, justice and legislative affairs. Prior to that, he also served as legal adviser at New Delhi Municipal Council in 2023. He was appointed district judge, south, Saket, in Aug this year.He joined Delhi Judicial Service on March 6, 2003, and began his career as a civil judge at Karkardooma in Aug 2003, serving in the position until July 2007. In 2010, he was appointed full-time secretary of District Legal Services Authority, south west, on deputation. He later served in Patiala House and Rohini courts and was promoted to Delhi Higher Judicial Service in Jan 2014.The latest suspension comes months after the high court suspended two judicial officers in quick succession after finding prima facie evidence of misconduct against them earlier this year.In July, the high court administration had suspended judge Veena Rani and fellow judge Vinay Singhal following a full court meeting.Singhal was suspended after a vigilance probe led the then Chief Justice to act against allegations of misconduct in the process of appointing court auctioneers.
