Introduce Biometric System For Employees' Attendance In CSC's Office, Ensure Case Files Reach HC By 10 AM: Allahabad HC To UP Govt

Taking exception to the delay in the arrival of files to the Courts from the office of the Chief Standing Counsel, the Allahabad High Court on Monday directed the Principal Secretary (Law) & LR, UP Govt to introduce the biometric system in the office of CSC, Allahabad within two weeks so as to ensure that the office employees reach in time.  

The bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal ordered thus while hearing a writ plea wherein the Standing Counsel appearing for the State made prayer for adjourning the matter on the ground that his file has not come from the CSC's office.

Essentially, during the course of the hearing, when the Court was informed that due to the late coming of the employees in the office of Chief Standing Counsel files are not being sent to the Court in time, the Court took a strong view against the prevailing state of affairs at the CSC's office.

Further, the Court remarked thus:

"This Court feels that on last several occasions the files have not come to the Court in time and the matters have been adjourned due to the fact that files of the Standing Counsel were not with them. It seems that the office of Chief Standing Counsel is not working properly and the files are not reaching the Courts in time, due to the fact that the employees are not coming to the office of Chief Standing Counsel in time, though the Standing Counsel are in time.It has also come to the knowledge of the Court that some of the employees from the office of Chief Standing Counsel are outsourcing staff who are bringing files to the Courts and are reaching the office late in time..." [emphasis supplied]

In this view of the matter, the court stressed that the time had come to introduce the biometric system for the attendance of employees in the office of Chief Standing Counsel and hence, the Court issued the following orders:

- Principal Secretary (Law) & L.R. Government of U.P. Lucknow directed to introduce the biometric system in the office of Chief Standing Counsel, Allahabad within two weeks and to ensure that files of each and every matter listed in the Court reach by 10.00 AM, when the Courts sit and start their judicial work

- The Advocate General, U.P. requested to take necessary action for the smooth and proper working in the office of Chief Standing Counsel, Allahabad.

Further, listing the matter for January 16, 2023, the Court asked the Principal Secretary (Law) & L.R. Government of UP to remain present in the Court and to inform the Court as to the steps having been taken in implementing the biometric system in the office of CSC.

Appearances:

Counsel for Petitioner:- V.D. Yadav,Vishesh Kumar

Counsel for Respondent:- C.S.C

Case title - Nar Singh And Others vs. State Of U.P.And Others [WRIT - C No. - 37500 of 1999]

Click Here To Read/Download Order