Uttarakhand High Court becomes first in India to bring complaints against judges into public view

Data on 258 complaints filed against judicial officers in Uttarakhand through RTI has been made public. This information was shared following an order from the State Information Commission and is being considered a significant step towards transparency and accountability in the judiciary.

Post Published By: Karan Sharma

Updated : 19 February 2026, 8:33 PM IST

Uttarakhand High Court (Image Source: Internet)

Dehradun: Complaints related to the judiciary are often kept out of the public domain and shrouded in secrecy. However, a significant development in Uttarakhand has changed this tradition. Following a request for information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the full details of complaints filed against judicial officers in the state's subordinate courts have been made public.

Between January 1, 2020, and April 15, 2025, a total of 258 complaints were filed against judicial officers. Disciplinary action was also initiated in four of these cases. This figure is significant, as such information was generally not made public before.

Initially Refused to Provide Information

This information was sought under RTI by Sanjeev Chaturvedi, Chief Conservator of Forests (Research), Haldwani. He sought certified copies of documents related to the rules applicable to judicial officers, the number of complaints filed, and disciplinary action taken between 2020 and 2025.

He contacted the Public Information Officer of the Uttarakhand High Court. However, the Public Information Officer initially refused to provide the information, stating that the complaints were sensitive and confidential and that the Chief Justice's permission was required to share them.

State Information Commission Intervenes

When the information was not provided, the matter reached the State Information Commission of Uttarakhand. The Commission stated categorically that information cannot be withheld merely by labeling it "confidential." According to the Commission, the number of complaints and the process for their disposal are matters of public interest.

The Commission also clarified that the personal identity of any judge or official would not be revealed. Furthermore, it directed that the relevant information be made available within a month. In compliance with the order, the relevant information was handed over to the appellant on February 11.

Such a disclosure is the first in the country

With this decision, the Uttarakhand High Court has become the first high court in the country to make public the number of corruption or other complaints against judicial officers. Previously, the Chhattisgarh, Delhi, and Madras High Courts had refused to share such information.

This move is being considered historic in increasing accountability in the judiciary.

A Strong Step Towards Transparency and Accountability

Appellant's lawyer, Sudarshan Goyal, says this decision will strengthen transparency in the judicial system. He believes that when data on complaints and action taken on them is made public, it will further strengthen public confidence in the judiciary.

Experts also believe that such transparency strengthens the democratic system and makes institutions more accountable.