High Court Transfers 13-Year-Old Civil Case After Judge Ignores Deadline

Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has expressed strong displeasure over the conduct of a civil judge in Sidhi and ordered the transfer of a 13-year-old civil case to another court. The High Court had directed the matter to be resolved within six weeks, but the judge deliberately scheduled the next hearing seven weeks later, prompting immediate action from the higher judiciary.

Court’s Reprimand
A single-judge bench of the High Court, led by Justice Vivek Jain, criticized the lower court for failing to take any concrete steps to hear the case. The court said such behavior reflects a lack of judicial discipline and respect for hierarchy, creating a perception among litigants that the justice system is dysfunctional.

Case Should Have Been Reassigned
The High Court further stated that if the judge did not have sufficient time to hear the case within the prescribed period, the Principal District Judge should have reassigned it to another judicial officer. However, the lower court had rejected the petitioner’s request for reassignment.

A Case Dragged for 13 Years
The civil case in question has been pending for nearly 13 years, and the lower court had refused to hear final arguments over the past two years. As recently as 8 January 2026, the next hearing was scheduled for 3 February 2026. Observing this, the High Court concluded that the presiding officer was not in a position to resolve the matter, and it was appropriate for the case to be transferred to a judge with sufficient time to dispose of it.

Administrative Follow-Up
A copy of the High Court’s order will be sent to the Sidhi District Judge, the supervising District Judge, and the portfolio judge for administrative action to ensure proper adherence to judicial timelines.