Allahabad HC transfers Sambhal CJM who ordered FIR against 20 cops; mosque survey order judge replaces him

PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad high court on Tuesday evening transferred 14 judges, including chief judicial magistrate (CJM) of Sambhal, Vibhanshu Sudheer, who had ordered registration of FIR against additional superintendent of police (ASP) Anuj Chaudhary among 20 policemen on a complaint that the accused cops had shot at a local youth during Sambhal violence in Nov 20.

Sudheer has been posted as civil judge (senior division) in Sultanpur district, according to an order issued by registrar general of Allahabad high court Manjeet Singh Sheoran on Jan 20, 2026 after the order of the court from administrative side. Sudheer has been replaced by Aditya Singh, who was the civil judge (senior division) at Sambhal's Chandausi town. Singh, incidentally, was the judge who passed the order directing a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Chandausi town in Nov 2024.

Sudheer passed an order on Jan 9, 2026 directing the police to register an FIR against several police officials, including former Sambhal CO Chaudhary, in connection with the Sambhal violence in Nov 2024. The allegations against the police officials pertained to opening fire with the intent to kill, which left a local youth named Alam grievously injured. CJM Vibhanshu Sudheer had allowed the application moved under Section 173(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) by Yameen, the father of the injured youth. In its 11-page order, CJM Sudheer had also observed that the police cannot invoke the "official duty" shield for criminal acts.

Apart from these two, 12 more judicial officers have been transferred from their respective place of posting to other districts. Urooj Fatima, additional civil judge, senior division, Sitapur is now ACJM, Sitapur. Anshu Shukla, the ACJM Sitapur has been transferred as civil judge, senior division, Sitapur.

Gaurav Prakash, civil judge, senior division Sitapur is now the new CJM Sitapur. Rajendra Kumar Singh, CJM, Sitapur takes over as civil judge, senior division, Kannauj. Sharaddha Bhartiya, CJM, Kannauj has been made civil judge, senior division, Kannauj while Jyotsana Yadav, civil judge senior division, Kannauj is now ACJM, Kannauj.

Among other transfers, Sneha, ACJM, Kannauj, will take over as secretary (full time) district legal services authority, Kannauj. Alunkrita Shakti Tripathi, civil judge, senior division, Sultanpur is now ACJM, Sultanpur. Shubham Verma, ACJM, Sultanpur takes over as additional civil judge, senior division, Sultanpur. In addition to them, Harendra Nath, additional district and sessions judge (fast track court), Kannauj is now special judge, Kannauj (POCSO) matters. Alka Yadav, additional district and sessions judge, Kannauj is additional district judge, Gonda and Vikas, special judge, Gonda is now additional district and sessions judge (fast track) Gonda.