"Retired" Not To Be Appended To Retired HC Judge's Name, Title Remains "Mr. Justice": Allahabad High Court Clarifies

The Allahabad High Court has observed that the title of a retired judge's name remains “Mr. Justice..”. It has been observed that the word “Retired” must not be used as a part of the name of a retired High Court judge.

“A retired Judge is not supposed to be referred to as "Hon'ble Mr. Justice ..... (Retired)". The word "Retired" is not to be appended as if it were to the name of the Judge. A Judge of the High Court, after he retires, still carries with his name, the title "Mr. Justice ...". All that is to be done in case of a retired Judge is that after a reference to his name as "Mr. Justice ....", the words "Retired Judge" or "Retired Judge of the High Court of ..." may be mentioned. It is not that after the name "Mr. Justice...." the word "Retired" is to be suffixed. This is a fallacy, of which the Government must take note,” observed Justice J.J. Munir.

The Court was dealing with a service case where in the personal affidavit of the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Government of U.P., Lucknow the judge's name was mentioned as “Hon'ble Justice Shri J.N. Mittal”.

The Court observed that it was pained to see the description of the Judge's name was in breach of the protocols.

“This Court is pained to note that the description of the Hon'ble Judge, his name and protocol have all been breached. The Hon'ble Judge, to whom the reference is made in paragraph no. 18, is Mr. Justice A.N. Mittal. It is disrespectful to incorrectly name a Judge.”

The Court directed the Registrar(Protocol) of the Allahabad High Court to submit a report in the case and further directed him to submit any guidelines which are in existence regarding the protocol.

Case Title: Lavkush Tiwari and 1486 others v. The State of U.P. and others 2024 LiveLaw (AB) 538 [WRIT - A No. - 18956 of 2022]

Case Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (AB) 538

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