Suresh Kumar Kait

Hon'ble Chief Justice
Suresh Kumar Kait
Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court
Incumbent
Assumed office
25 September 2024
Nominated byDhananjaya Y. Chandrachud
Appointed byDroupadi Murmu
Preceded byRavi Malimath
Sheel Nagu (acting)
Sanjeev Sachdeva (acting)
Judge of Delhi High Court
In office
5 September 2008 – 24 September 2024
Nominated byK. G. Balakrishnan
Appointed byPratibha Patil
Personal details
Born (1963-05-24) 24 May 1963 (age 61)

Suresh Kumar Kait (born 24 May 1963) is an Indian Judge. Presently, he is serving as Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.[1] He is a former judge of the Delhi High Court.[2]

Controversies

Temple demolition controversy

In December 2024, a controversy erupted over Madhya Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Suresh Kait's decision to remove a historical temple from his official residence. The temple, which had been a place of worship for many former Chief Justices, including Justices SA Bobde, AM Khanwilkar, and Hemant Gupta, was demolished without government permission or a statutory order. The Madhya Pradesh High Court Bar Association addressed a letter to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Supreme Court Judge Justice B.R. Gavai, seeking an inquiry and action against those responsible.[3]

The bar body emphasized that the temple was government property and had been maintained with government funds. They argued that the temple's removal was an insult to believers of Sanatan Dharma, as even Muslim Chief Justices like Justice Rafat Alam and Rafiq Ahmed had not objected to its presence. The controversy intensified when advocate Ravindra Nath Tripathi filed a complaint to the President, Prime Minister, CJI, and Union Law Minister, seeking action against Justice Kait. Tripathi also requested Justice Kait's recusal from hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the removal of temples from police stations across the state. Madhya Pradesh High Court Bar Association President Dhanya Kumar Jain suggested that Justice Kait's adherence to Buddhism, which traditionally does not endorse the presence of Hindu temples, might have influenced his decision to remove the temple. Jain called for an investigation into the matter, stating that the removal of the temple from an official residence was a serious issue. The controversy has sparked significant debate and calls for accountability within the legal community, creating an environment of sadness and anger among the Advocates' Association, legal fraternity, and the general public.[4][5][6]

References

  1. ^ "Centre notifies appointment of Chief Justices for eight high courts". ddnews.gov.in. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  2. ^ PTI (25 September 2024). "Madhya Pradesh High Court's new Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait takes oath". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Bar objects to MP High Court Chief Justice SK Kait removing temple from official residence". Bar and Bench. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Madhya Pradesh High Court Bar Association's Complaint regarding demolition of temple". Verdictum. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  5. ^ "MP HC Bar Association writes to CJI after temple removed from Justice Kait's official residence". OpIndia. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Madhya Pradesh Hanuman Mandir demolition sparks controversy, High Court Bar Association raises alarm". Organiser. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
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