A tribunal member has been sanctioned after using her phone and laptop during hearings. Dr Sujata Chadha, a medical member of the social entitlement chamber – which includes the social security and child support tribunal, the criminal injuries compensation tribunal and the asylum support tribunal – was alleged to have spent ‘part of her time’ during hearings using her phone and laptop to send personal text messages and emails.
A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: ‘The Guide to Judicial Conduct reminds office holders of the need for diligence and care in the discharge of their judicial duties. This includes an expectation to pay full attention to court proceedings.’
Chadha, who did not dispute the allegations, acknowledged that ‘her conduct on the occasions in question was inappropriate and unprofessional’. She apologised and gave reassurances that it would not happen again, the JCIO said.
The lady chief justice and the lord chancellor agreed with the advice from the JCIO that Chadha’s actions amount to misconduct as ‘she had breached the requirement for diligence and care in the discharge of her duties as a medical member of the tribunal’.
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The JCIO added: ‘This risked reputational harm to herself and to the tribunal.’ Taking into consideration Chadha’s acceptance of responsibility, her apology and the lack of any previous findings of misconduct against her, the lady chief justice and lord chancellor issued Chadha with formal advice for misconduct.
