Punctuality Is Hallmark Of Any Discipline: Telangana HC Directs All Judicial Officers To Scrupulously Follow Office Timings, Warns Of Disciplinary Action

The Telangana High Court has issued a circular directing judicial officers in the State to observe office timings scrupulously. The circular was issued after individual incidents of officers leaving early were brought to the notice of the High Court.

"Punctuality is the hallmark of any discipline, especially in the Judicial wing, and any deviation to this cardinal principle shakes the confidence of litigant public in the institution. Therefore all the Unit Heads and the Judicial Officers were directed to observe the court timings, and punctuality and render devoted service during the court hours, to improve their disposals in order to bring down accumulated pendency and to achieve results. The Unit Heads were also required to find out innovative methods permissible under law and chalk out action after having deliberations with the Officers working in their Unit and to motivate them to improve the disposals," the circular stated.

It further stated that all judicial officers were directed to adhere to work timings and not leave the Court premises during lunch, or other breaks.

The High Court has also issued a proforma, which all judicial officers of the District judiciary are to fill and forward to the concerned District Judge. The Officers were further directed not to leave the head-quarters over the weekends without the prior permission of the High Court or unless there was an emergency.

"Despite issuance of circular instructions regarding the observance of office timings and punctuality in holding public courts from 10.30 A.M. to 5.00 P.M. with lunch recess from 2.00 PM to 2.30 PM, it has come to the notice of the High Court that many of the Presiding Officers in District Judiciary are not strictly following the office timings and attending the Bench late, leaving for their residence during lunch recess and also leaving the court premises before 5.00 PM or frequently the Head Quarters without permission of the Hon'ble High Court. It is needless to say that non-observance of the working hours as prescribed leads to indiscipline, decrease in the rate of disposal of affects the performance of Judicial Officers both qualitatively and quantitatively." the circular read.

The circular notified all the officers that any violation of the above orders would be viewed seriously and disciplinary action would ensue.

Click Here To Read/Download Circular