'Sorry State Of Affairs': Supreme Court Criticises Registry For Shifting Blame On Court Masters For Not Complying With Order

The Supreme Court on Tuesday criticized the Registry for shifting the blame on Court Masters for not complying with the Court’s orders.

“This is a very sorry state of affairs. The members of the staff of the Registry are not able to understand simple orders passed by this Court and they are trying to shift the entire burden on the Court Masters which was uncalled for.” The Apex Court said.

The factual background for the remarks of the Court is that on 12th May, the Court had directed the Registry to call for Trial Court records and place before it the printed version of depositions of the material witnesses in a case. Since the Registry failed to comply with this order, another order was passed on 21st July. Due to non-compliance, another order dated 25th August was passed seeking an explanation from the Registrar (Judicial Listing).

In the explanation submitted before Court, the Senior Court Assistant stated that the Court Masters had failed to informed her Section that the bench requires two sets of translated copies of the depositions of the Trial Court.

A division bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Pankaj Mithal came down heavily on the Registry for trying to shift the blame on the Court Masters and for expecting the Court Masters to inform the Registry that the two judge bench requires two sets of copies of the deposition:

“It is unfortunate that the Senior Court Assistant and other officers have tried to shift the entire blame on the Court Masters. According to us, the Court Masters had no role to play in compliance with the orders of this Court and they cannot be blamed for the lapse. The Senior Court Assistant has taken a stand that Court Masters have not informed her Section that this Court requires two separate sets of translated copies of the depositions of the Trial Court” the Court said.

The Court expressed its dissatisfaction with the explanation provided by the Registrar:

“When a Bench of two Judges requires printed copies of the depositions, it is obvious that only one copy cannot be supplied and two copies are required. The explanations submitted by some staff members show that even this elementary knowledge was lacking.” The Court said.

However, the Registry staff tendered an apology and the Registrar assured the Court that such lapses would not be repeated. The Court said that the members of the Registry must implement its orders scrupulously and seek clarification from Court Masters if required.

Case Title: Harphool @ Kala V. State Of Uttar Pradesh, Special Leave Petition (Criminal) Diary No(s). 37986/2022

Citation : 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 775

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