The Bombay High Court has made it mandatory for judges to upload orders on the same day or explain delays. Non-compliance may be treated as misconduct, with strict action including suspension.
The Bombay High Court has issued strict directions to all judicial officers in Maharashtra and Goa, asking them to upload their orders and judgments on the Case Information System (CIS) server on the very same day they are passed.
As per the new circular, if any order or judgment is not uploaded on the same day, the concerned judicial officer must provide proper details along with reasons explaining the delay. The High Court has made it clear that timely uploading is not optional but a mandatory duty.
Importantly, the circular warns that failure to follow this rule will be treated seriously. It states that such failure will amount to
“misconduct touching to the integrity of judicial officer”,
highlighting that delays in uploading orders can raise questions about transparency and accountability in the judicial system.
The High Court has also introduced a compliance mechanism. Judicial officers are now required to submit a monthly certificate in a prescribed format confirming that all orders and judgments have been uploaded within the stipulated time. This step is aimed at ensuring regular monitoring and discipline.
The circular further adds a strict consequence for providing incorrect information. It clearly warns that if any mismatch or false detail is found in the certificate, the officer concerned will face immediate action. As stated, such officers will be placed under
“suspension with departmental enquiry being dispensed with”,
indicating that even a formal inquiry may not be required before taking action.
In addition to this, the High Court has directed all judicial officers not to keep court files with them after a case is disposed of. This is to ensure proper record management and avoid any unnecessary delay or irregular handling of case documents.
These directions have been sent to all judicial officers through the Principal District and Sessions Judges, who have been asked to inform officers under their control and ensure strict compliance with the rules.
The current circular is based on earlier concerns raised by the High Court in a communication dated January 9, 2020. During inspections of subordinate courts, several irregularities were found in the functioning of judicial officers.
The Registrar’s inspection report pointed out multiple issues. Some officers were not following proper court timings, with instances of judges sitting late beyond 11 am or leaving early before court hours ended. There were also serious concerns about case management, such as judgments not being uploaded on time, matters being kept reserved for long periods, evidence not being recorded even when scheduled, and officers leaving headquarters without prior permission.
Taking note of these problems, the High Court has now issued strict and clear instructions. Judicial officers have been directed to strictly follow court timings, promptly upload judgments, and avoid unnecessary delays in pronouncing orders.
These steps reflect the High Court’s strong push towards improving efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the lower judiciary, ensuring that justice is not delayed due to administrative lapses.
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