In a powerful judgment, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has criticised the way District Judges are treated by the High Court, comparing it to the relationship between feudal lords and their serfs.

Justice Atul Sreedharan said the system isn’t based on mutual respect but on fear, submission, and a lack of dignity.

The observations came during a case involving a Special Judge (SC/ST Court) who was removed from service in 2015 after granting bail in some Vyapam-related cases. Despite 28 years of clean service, he was dismissed based only on police statements — with no complaint from any litigant.

Justice Sreedharan slammed the way the higher judiciary treats its junior counterparts. He said District Judges are made to receive High Court Judges at railway stations, serve them refreshments, and often aren’t even offered a seat at the High Court. Even when offered, many hesitate to sit — all out of fear.

“Their body language stops just short of grovelling,” the court remarked, calling it a sign of “colonial decadence” that still exists in the system.

The judgment said this kind of atmosphere pushes trial court judges into fear-driven decisions — denying bail when it's justified or convicting people without strong evidence, just to avoid upsetting the High Court.

In a sharp comparison, the judge said the system acts like the caste hierarchy — with High Court judges as savarnas and District Judges treated like shudras or “Les Misérables.”

Justice Sreedharan made it clear: judicial orders passed honestly cannot be punished. Unless there is proof of dishonesty or corruption, a judge should not lose their job for making a decision. The court quashed the termination, ordered full reinstatement, back pay with interest, retirement benefits, and ₹5 lakh compensation for the trauma caused.

The judgment ends with a strong message — that a judiciary ruled by fear cannot deliver justice. If trial court judges feel scared of punishment for doing their job, then the justice system itself is at risk