Chandigarh, March 6 -- The Delhi high court has dismissed a writ petition filed by MM Dhonchak, a retired judicial officer and former presiding officer of the Debts Recovery Tribunal (DRT)-II, Chandigarh, challenging the extension of his suspension for an additional 180 days. The suspension, initially set to end on November 9, 2024, was extended for another six months.

The Union ministry of finance had first ordered Dhonchak's suspension on February 13, 2024, which has since been extended twice. Dhonchak, appointed as the presiding officer of DRT-II on February 20, 2022, faced accusations from the Debt Recovery Tribunal Bar Association of harassing counsels and granting long adjournments. In October 2022, the Punjab and Haryana high cour...