SC Warns ED Against Acting Like Crooks; 13 Allahabad HC Judges Defy Roster Directive

1. Supreme Court Slams Enforcement Directorate Conduct

New Delhi — August 7, 2025 – The Supreme Court of India today delivered a sharp rebuke to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), stating in judicial terms that it must act lawfully and not “like a crook”. The bench, consisting of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan, and N. Kotiswar Singh, flagged low conviction rates—less than 10% of the 5,000 cases the ED registered over five years—and expressed deep concern over persistent delays and procedural laxity.
National Herald

Justice Bhuyan remarked, “You can’t act like a crook, you have to act within the four corners of the law.” He emphasized that these systemic issues risk damaging the ED’s institutional credibility and highlighted the need for dedicated courts to expedite PMLA matters.
National Herald

2. Allahabad HC Judges Resent SC Roster Interference

Meanwhile, in Lucknow, 13 sitting judges of the Allahabad High Court have taken an unprecedented step by writing to their Chief Justice, urging defiance of a Supreme Court order. The SC bench had stripped Justice Prashant Kumar of criminal bench assignments, labeling one of his rulings “one of the worst and most erroneous” they’ve seen. The apex court directed that Justice Kumar be placed only on division benches with a senior judge and barred from criminal cases until his retirement.
The Times of IndiaDeccan Herald

In their letter, the HC judges asserted that the Supreme Court lacks administrative authority over High Courts. They argue the order oversteps constitutional boundaries, challenges the High Court Chief Justice’s prerogative over case rosters, and undermines judicial independence. The judges demanded a Full Court session to express their dissent over the tone and substance of the directive.
The New Indian ExpressLive Law

Key Developments Table