We Feel Counter Affidavits For State Are Being Drafted By Stenos, Not Law Officers: Allahabad High Court Summons UP's Principal Law Secretary

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday summoned UP's Principal Law Secretary to personally submit his report and apprise the Court of steps taken by him regarding drafting of counter affidavits by the stenographers posted in the offices of Chief Standing Counsel, Additional Chief Standing Counsel and Standing Counsels.

The bench comprising Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal was hearing a matter relating to cancellation of firearm license of the petitioner due to pendency of criminal case against him. In the writ petition, the petitioner had specifically stated that he had been acquitted in the criminal case and had also annexed a copy of the order of the trial court. The Court observed that no response to this averment of the petitioner was given in the counter affidavit filed by the State.

To this, the Court observed,

“This Court has a feeling that these counter affidavits are not being drafted by Chief Standing Counsel, Additional Chief Standing Counsel and Standing Counsel, who are required to draft the same, but are drafted by the Stenographers posted in the office of Chief Standing Counsel, on the basis of narrative received from the concerned department of State.”

Accordingly, the Court directed the Principal Secretary (Law) & L.R. Government of U.P. to submit his report regarding the drafting of counter affidavit by stenographers and the measures taken to prevent the same.