‘Pay Highest Respect To Their Lordships’: Allahabad HC Registrar Issues Order

The judiciary having the separation of power while being part of the government working for equality, peace, and harmony in the society. The system is clearly defined, as the courts are divided in the country, the hierarchy of the internal judicial system is also well defined. But so to say, the people who as at a higher level, working as to resolve the issues as to clarify the inequality in the society and leading to providing judgment are the honorable Judges.
We bow our heads as we walk inside a courtroom and don’t walk out showing our backs, that’s the sense of respect, and pride as we live in the freedom of democracy. With the ethical code of conduct is present, there were some irregularities noticed by the Allahabad High Court, as the Registrar-General has issued a stern advisory to pay the highest respect to the High Court Judges when they are passing through the galleries. The advisory cautions, that whoever cross paths with the Judges in the galleries must wait until they have passed as a mark of respect. This was issued after it came to the notice that court officials were not stopping to wait for the judges to pass through. This was termed to be the clear act of disrespect.
An office order issued yesterday to this effect by the Allahabad High Court Establishment Section states, “It has often been noticed that while Hon’ble Judges pass through the galleries for sitting in Court and also retiring to Their Lordship’s Chambers, the officials/officers passing in the way do no stop to wait for the Hon’ble Judges to cross them, which is clearly an act of disrespect. It is, therefore, directed that the officers/officials while passing through the galleries meant for the movement of the Hon’ble Judges shall stop whenever they see that the Hon’ble Judges are passing through the galleries and pay the highest respect to Their Lordships.
Any deviation in this regard shall be viewed seriously.”
Similar etiquette practices are not uncommon across High Courts. The Madras High Court also has mace-bearers who generally march ahead of judges to warn others to halt until the judge has crossed.
The authors perspective and in his experience, that the judges should be given highest respect and honor to the judges. This is not just a line in a book to follow, but an inner sense of respect and duty towards the chair and the chairperson.
By
Priyam Kamra
Student Reporter, INBA