Delhi HC Suspends Judge Over Alleged Appointment Of Ineligible Auctioneers, Payments Beyond Norms

Last Updated:July 17, 2026, 08:15 IST

The suspension, approved by the court on July 10, followed a complaint received on August 20, 2025. The complaint prompted Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya to order a vigilance inquiry.

The Delhi High Court has suspended district judge Vinay Singhal after a vigilance inquiry into allegations that he appointed ineligible advocates as court auctioneers and passed judicial orders allowing them to receive payments beyond the limits prescribed under the rules.

The suspension, approved by the full court on July 10, followed a complaint received on August 20, 2025. The complaint prompted Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya to order a vigilance inquiry, Hindustan Times reported.

According to people familiar with the matter, the inquiry raised concerns about a possible nexus between Singhal and some of the beneficiaries of the appointments. Before taking the decision, the full court examined the vigilance report, sought comments from the concerned principal district and sessions judge, and allowed Singhal to present his explanation.

The complaint was filed by an advocate who had been appointed as a court auctioneer. It alleged that several advocates were appointed despite failing to meet the eligibility criteria laid down by the Delhi High Court and were later paid honoraria exceeding the limits permitted under the High Court rules.

Court auctioneers are licensed professionals appointed by district courts to conduct auctions of properties attached in execution proceedings, including the recovery of decrees. Their appointments and remuneration are regulated by the Delhi High Court.

The High Court’s circulars prescribe eligibility conditions for appointment, including a minimum of five years of practice at the Bar and an annual income of at least Rs 15,000, as applicable when the complaint was filed. Under the rules, 80% of the admissible commission is paid to the auctioneer, while the remaining 20% is deposited into the government treasury.

According to the people cited above, the vigilance inquiry examined not only the appointments but also judicial orders passed by Singhal authorising payments beyond the prescribed limits, leading the High Court to consider disciplinary proceedings against him.

The suspension was made public through a resolution issued on July 10 by Registrar General Arun Bhardwaj, stating that disciplinary proceedings against Singhal were under contemplation.

“Whereas disciplinary proceedings against Mr Vinay Singhal, an officer of the Delhi Higher Judicial Service, are contemplated. Now, therefore, this Court, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-rule (1) of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, read with Rule 27 of Delhi Higher Judicial Service Rules, 1970, hereby places the said Mr Vinay Singhal under suspension with immediate effect," the resolution stated.

The resolution also directed that Singhal’s headquarters during the suspension would remain the office of the Principal District and Sessions Judge (Headquarters), Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi, HT reported.

“It is further ordered that during the period that this order shall remain in force, the headquarters of Mr Vinay Singhal shall be the office of the Principal District & Sessions Judge (HQs.), Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi, and the said Mr Vinay Singhal shall not leave Delhi without obtaining the prior permission of the competent authority," it read.

The action marks the latest instance of the Delhi High Court exercising its disciplinary jurisdiction over members of the subordinate judiciary. Last year, the full court suspended District Judge Sanjeev Kumar Singh and initiated disciplinary proceedings against another judicial officer, Anil Kumar, following a vigilance inquiry into allegations of judicial misconduct arising from a complaint by a woman lawyer.

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