The Supreme Court has stayed the promotion of 68 lower judicial officers in Gujarat, including Surat Chief Judicial Magistrate Harish Hasmukhbhai Varma, who convicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case. The stay order was passed because the promotions were found to be in violation of the Gujarat State Judicial Service Rules 2005 amended in 2011. The court ordered that the promotees be sent back to their previous posts. The matter will be heard by an appropriate bench as Justice Shah is retiring soon.
