QC removed from judicial posts after pursuit of 'abuse of process' application found to demonstrate lack of judgement

Kuldip singh QC, a Recorder of the Crown Court and Deputy High Court Judge, has been removed from his judicial positions following an investigation by the Office for Judicial Complaints.  The investigation was brought after the QC failed in his attempts to have a driving case against him dismissed as 'an abuse of the court's process'.

Police claimed that Mr singh had jumped a light 1.4 seconds after it had turned red in November 2011, whilst exceeding the speed limit.  Mr singh argued that he was never given the option of paying an on-the-spot fine and that his speed should not have been taken into consideration in the prosecution.  District Judge Quentin Purdy, sitting at Westminster Magistrates' Court, said that Mr singh's attempts to have the case dismissed on abuse grounds had been a fallacy from the start and criticised him for wasting a substantial amount of court time and resources.

Mr singh ended up pleading guilty to failing to comply with a traffic signal.  A fine of £60 was imposed, together with three penalty points.  In addition to this Mr singh was ordered to pay £4,769 in prosecution costs.

The Office for Judicial Complaints issued the following statement:-

 "Mr Kuldip singh QC, who sits as a Recorder of the Crown Court and Deputy High Court judge, was subject to an investigation by the Office for Judicial Complaints, following the refusal of his abuse of process application he pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to comply with a traffic signal. The Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice concluded that in the pursuit of the application he demonstrated a total lack of judgement and that his actions have damaged the reputation of the judiciary. In addition he failed to inform the judicial authorities of the proceedings. Mr singh has therefore been removed from his judicial positions."