Public servants face deemed suspension if in judicial custody over 48 hours: Supreme Court

The <b>Supreme Court</b> reiterated that any public servant arrested and kept in judicial custody for more than 48 hours faces deemed suspension without requiring a specific order. A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and <b>Manmohan</b> made this observation while restoring the bail granted to <b>Vishwajeet Singh</b>, who served as the administrator of Sadar Hospital in Samastipur. Singh had challenged a Patna High Court order that cancelled his bail nearly a year after it was initially granted by the sessions court. The <b>FIR</b> against him was registered at the Vigilance police station under the Prevention of Corruption Act after he allegedly demanded a bribe of <b>Rs 4,000</b> to clear a worker's pending wages. The apex court set aside the high court's cancellation order while noting a disturbing feature regarding the accused's reinstatement to the exact same hospital post.