Dehradun, July 31 -- The Supreme Court has censured a single-judge bench of the Uttarakhand High Court for hearing and passing interim orders in a criminal petition case involving a former client, highlighting the cardinal principle that "justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done." A two-judge bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva observed that, in the interest of judicial propriety, the High Court judge ought not to have entertained the matter, noting that passing orders either in favour of or against a former private client does not further the cause of justice. The observations came on July 27 while disposing of a special leave petition filed by Prateek Resorts and Builders Private Limited. During the hearing, the Supreme Court was informed that High Court judge Justice Rakesh Thapliyal had previously appeared as counsel for Prateek Resorts & Builders Private Limited in a 2013 writ petition involving the same parcel of land that is now under enquiry before him. An impleadment application filed by the real estate firm in the matter also remained pending before the same judge....