On the victim's family showing apprehension of bias, the Supreme Court today transferred trial in a hit-and-run case involving a sitting Judicial Magistrate as an accused from Punjab to Delhi. The judicial officer is serving in Punjab.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi passed the order, after hearing Advocate Raja Choudhary for petitioner (victim's wife).

During the hearing, the judicial officer's counsel apprised the court that he has no objection to the transfer of trial. However, he requested that the trial may be transferred to Noida, instead of Delhi, as the victim's sister-in-law is a practicing lawyer in Delhi and as such the judicial officer may face hostility. In response, Justice Kant said,

"As a judicial officer, do you think these things will matter?"

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