"Don't Offer Gifts To Visiting High Court Judges" : Chief Justice Of J&K&L HC To Judicial Officers

Judicial officers have been restricted from receiving, seeing off or visiting the Chief Justice or any other High Court Judges who may have come to a particular subordinate court. As per the guidelines receiving, seeing off or providing other protocol to visiting Chief Justice/High Court judge shall be done by a senior non-judicial Administrative Officer.

Moreover, holding meetings or other official calls with judicial officers, if the visiting High Court judges desire is to be done before or after the court hours.

Judicial officers have further been barred from arranging private trips, excursions, hotels and offering gifts or hospitality to visiting High Court judges.

The circular reads, "If arrangement in connection with an official visit of Hon'ble Chief Justice/Hon'ble Judges is required to be made by the District Judge or Chief Judicial Magistrate, all the bills shall be raised in the name of and the payment shall be made directly by the Hon'ble High Court to the extent permitted and no personal funds will be used by any Judicial Officer for this purpose."

Judicial officers have also been barred from organising functions, during the visit of High Court Judges. The official functions can be organised at the cost of the government if there are written directions, the guidelines say.

The guidelines go on the restrict the practice of assigning Liasion Officers' duty to Judicial Officers. Such duty, according to the circular will be performed by Senior Administrative officer or alternatively Mobile Magistrate or Leave reserve officer.

The circular is a reminder of guidelines that have been laid down earlier. According to the circular, the violation of guidelines will be treated as "gross misconduct" and can warrant disciplinary action against the erring judicial officer.

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