Delhi High Court Directs District Courts To Ensure Recording Advocates' Appearances In Order Sheets, Calls For 'Drop Box', 'Chat Box' System
The Delhi High Court has recently directed all the district courts in the national capital to ensure that the appearances of advocates are properly recorded in the order sheets.
Justice Sanjeev Narula directed the Principal District and Sessions Judge (Headquarters) to issue necessary instructions to all District Courts on the issue.
“To facilitate this process, a mechanism similar to the 'drop-box' system for advocates appearing in person, or the 'chat box' used in video conferencing hearings at the High Court of Delhi, could be implemented,” the court said.
Justice Narula was dealing with a plea moved by Advocate Ranjeet Kumar Thakur aggrieved by exclusion of his name in orders rendered by the Patiala House Court. It was his case that despite several attempts to get his appearance recorded, the District Courts continue to omit his the name from the order sheets.
The Court observed that the crux of the issue highlighted in the petition related to the need to formalize the practice of recording the names of advocates representing parties in court proceedings.
“Such records serve as acknowledgment of an advocate's attendance and participation in the hearings and also forms the foundation for the eligibility requirement for allotment of chambers in district courts,” the Court said.
It added that court appearances are often a prerequisite for eligibility in District Bar Association elections, whether as candidates or voters.
“The apparent absence of a uniform protocol across District Courts in this regard, calls for immediate rectification. The Court, therefore, deems it necessary to intervene, issuing appropriate directions to standardize this practice across all District Courts in Delhi,” the order said.
Justice Narula observed that that the standardize practice would streamline the submission of names of advocates present during court proceedings as well as accurate and consistent record across all District Courts which will further ensure transparency and protect professional interests of advocates.
“Accordingly, the present petition is disposed of with a direction to the Principal District and Sessions Judge (Headquarters) to issue necessary instructions to all District Courts, ensuring that the appearances of advocates appearing before the court are properly recorded in the order sheets,” the Court said while disposing of the plea.
Title: RANJEET KUMAR THAKUR v. UOI & ORS.