Debangana Ray
Published on July 13, 2022 at 17:57 IST
The Gujarat High Court on observing that judges often are not present and punctual during court hours, warned judicial officers that if they do not become punctual, disciplinary actions will be taken against them.
The High Court Registrar General stated that instructions to judges to maintain punctuality for “disposal of judicial business and full-time sitting in courtroom during court hours, there appears to be no improvement in the situation”.
The circular cited past communiques directing judges of lower courts to follow the instructions in paragraph 2(B) of Chapter I of the Civil Manual.
In January 2017, the HC wrote to principal judicial officers of all lower courts asking them to identify officers who do not follow instructions on strict observance of court working hours and submit reports to the HC.
Since the past four years, the HC noted that there has been no improvement in the punctuality by lower court judges.
It has now decided to take a tough stance as the circular reads, “All judicial officers are therefore directed that observance of court hours and punctuality be maintained strictly and non-observance of instructions/directions issued in this regard shall be viewed seriously by the high court and may invite disciplinary actions against erring judicial officers.”
