Be Punctual, Ensure Judgements Are Uploaded; Bombay HC Issues Directions To Judicial Officers

SG Dige, Registrar (Inspection I), Appellate Side, High Court wrote to all the Principal District and Sessions Judges.

Following irregularities were found-

i) The judicial officers are not observing court timing, they are sitting after 11 am on the dais

ii) Judicial officers leave the dais before court working hours end

iii) Judicial officers generally after pronouncing the judgement do not upload it immediately or they keep the judgement reserved for a long time.

iv) When matters are placed on board for evidence, sometimes it is not recorded for some reason or the other. Litigants are made to wait the whole day and sometimes matters do not even reach the same day.

v) Judicial officers generally leave their head-quarter without giving intimation to the concerned authority.

Thus, to rectify the said irregularities, Chief Justice issued the following directions to all sub-ordinate judicial officers–

i) Observe court working hours and seat on the dais sharp at 11 am

ii) Avoid practice of keeping a judgement reserved for a long time, upload immediately and also ensure that they are uploaded

iii) If it is noticed that matters placed on board will not reach the same day then give the next date to the litigant at the earliest instead of keeping them waiting the whole day

iv) Complete the evidence of witnesses on the same day if possible

v) Earmark the seats for senior citizens in court

vi) Take prior permission or intimate the Principal District and Sessions Judge/concerned authority before leaving your head-quarter

The above directions, if complied with will bring a positive change in the administration and smooth functioning of lower courts. However, certain irregularities pointed out against sub-ordinate courts are also applicable to the High Court. For instance, certain judges do not observe court working hours, enter the courtroom late and leave early. Thus, if judges of the higher judiciary observe the above directions as well, it will go a long way in leading the way for sub-ordinate courts.

Click here to download the Directions