Don’t Rely On Headnotes Of Law Journals: MP HC Circular Tells Judicial Officers

Headnote, in a given case, may not reflect the correct position, it said.

The Registrar General of Madhya Pradesh High Court has recently issued a circular to the judicial officers of the state directing not to rely or reproduce the headnotes of Supreme Court and high court judgments published by various law journals.

According to the registrar, during the assessment of lower court judgments, it was noticed that many judicial officers had reproduced headnotes from relevant journals relating to high court/ Supreme Court judgments.

The circular stated that the headnote is a creation of the edition board of the journals. Headnote, in a given case, may not reflect the correct position.

The registrar has directed the judicial officers that if the judicial officers intend to rely or reproduce a high court or Supreme Court judgment, it is better to reproduce the actual paragraph of the judgment or its substance in their own language.