Agartala: The Tripura government has agreed to withdraw the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Sabroom from his current posting following allegations of publicly humiliating a senior advocate, leaders of the Tripura Bar Association said on Tuesday after meeting Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha.
Tensions had been rising among the legal fraternity in Tripura after senior advocate Ratan Nath of the Sabroom Bar was allegedly abused and asked to leave the SDM’s chamber during a hearing related to his client’s case under Section 126 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, corresponding to the earlier Section 107 of the CrPC.
The incident involved SDM Abhijit Singha Yadav, an IAS officer who had assumed charge in Sabroom about a month ago.
Bar members said the advocate had gone to the SDM’s chamber for an official hearing when the officer allegedly lost his temper, used abusive language, and indicated that the advocate’s presence was not required.
The Sabroom Bar Association strongly objected to the alleged conduct and announced a cease-work, triggering wider resentment among lawyers across the state.
The Tripura Bar Association subsequently demanded immediate administrative action, including the officer’s removal from the posting.
A delegation of the Tripura Bar Association met the Chief Secretary at the civil secretariat on Tuesday evening, seeking intervention to defuse the situation and restore normal functioning of courts and administrative offices.
Senior advocate Pijush Biswas, speaking to reporters after the meeting, said the Chief Secretary acknowledged that the incident constituted a lapse on the part of the officer.
He said the administration agreed to withdraw the SDM from his current posting, which was the Bar’s primary demand.
Biswas added that the Chief Secretary also informed the delegation that the District Magistrate would intervene to resolve misunderstandings between the local administration and the legal fraternity in Sabroom.
In view of the government’s assurances, the Tripura Bar Association has decided not to proceed with its proposed state-wide agitation, Biswas said, adding that the Bar was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.
Another senior advocate, Arindam Bhattacharjee, said the Chief Secretary noted that the officer was relatively inexperienced and assured that corrective steps would be taken.
He added that the District Magistrate had been tasked with convening a mediation meeting involving representatives of the Bar and the SDM to ensure an amicable resolution.
The mediation meeting, to be held under the supervision of the District Magistrate, is expected within the next couple of days, the Bar Association said, expressing hope that the impasse would be resolved and normal work would resume.