Allahabad High Court Questions UP Govt Over Protocol For Using 'Honourable' Title For State Officials
The Allahabad High Court has asked the Uttar Pradesh Government to apprise the Court if there is any protocol about officials of the State who are entitled to prefix or have the word "Honourable" prefixed along with their designations or names.
In this regard, a bench of Justice JJ Munir has sought an affidavit of the Principal Secretary, Department of Revenue, UP, Lucknow.
The bench sought the affidavit as aforesaid while dealing with a writ petition moved by one Krishna Gopal Rathore, in which it noted that the Collector of Etawah had referred to the Divisional Commissioner of Kanpur as "Honourable Commissioner" in an official letter.
The Court further noted that the term "Honourable" is regularly mentioned alongside the names of state officials of various ranks in government correspondence; however, it wasn't clear if any protocol existed in this regard.
In its order, the Court also observed that while the word "Honourable" is to be certainly prefixed in the case of Hon'ble Ministers and other sovereign functionaries, it was not known if the same holds suitable for Secretaries serving the State Government.
In view of this, the Court posted the matter for further hearing on October 1, seeking the affidavit of the Principal Secretary of the Department of Revenue.
Case title - Krishn Gopal Rathore vs. State of U.P. and others