THE JUDGES (PROTECTION) ACT, 1985
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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
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SECTIONS 

1.  Short title and extent. 
2.  Definition. 
3.  Additional protection to Judges. 
4.  Saving.
 
 

THE JUDGES (PROTECTION) ACT, 1985

ACT NO. 59 OF 1985 

[6th September, 1985.]

An Act for securing additional protection for Judges and others acting Judicially and for matters 
connected therewith. 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 

1. Short title and extent.—(1) This Act may be called the Judges (Protection) Act, 1985. 
(2) It extends to the whole of India.

2.  Definition.—In  this  Act,  “Judge”  means  not  only  every  person  who is  officially  designated as a 
Judge, but also every person— 

(a)  who  is  empowered  by  law  to  give  in  any  legal  proceeding  a  definitive  judgment,  or  a 
judgment which, if not appealed against, would be definitive, or a judgment which, if confirmed by 
some other authority, would be definitive; or 

(b) who is one of a body of persons which body of persons is empowered by  law to give such a 
judgment as is referred to in clause (a). 

3. Additional protection to Judges.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for 
the time being in force and subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), no court shall entertain or continue 
any  civil  or  criminal  proceeding  against  any  person  who  is  or  was  a  Judge  for  any  act,  thing  or  word 
committed, done or spoken by him when, or in the course of, acting or purporting to act in the discharge 
of his official or judicial duty or function. 

(2)  Nothing  in  sub-section  (1)  shall  debar  or  affect  in  any  manner  the  power  of  the  Central 
Government  or  the  State  Government  or  the  Supreme  Court  of  India  or  any  High  Court  or  any  other 
authority under any law for the time being in force to take such action (whether by way of civil, criminal, 
or departmental proceedings or otherwise) against any person who is or was a Judge. 

4. Saving.—The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, the provisions 
of any other law for the time being in force providing for protection of Judges.