The Supreme Court of India recently expressed its strong disapproval towards its officials for their consistent inability to follow straightforward instructions. The matter in question revolved around the officials’ repeated failure to produce two copies of witness testimony in a criminal case under the court’s review.
In a detailed order, the two-judge bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal, highlighted their concerns. They remarked,
“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 bench further emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating,
“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 master’s which was uncalled for.”
The order also pointed out the basic understanding that two copies are typically required, and the explanations provided by some staff members indicated a lack of even this fundamental knowledge.
This entire episode unfolded during the court’s hearing of an appeal against a murder conviction. The accused had been sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in 2008. The Allahabad High Court upheld this conviction and sentence in 2017, prompting the convict to appeal to the Supreme Court. Despite the apex court issuing three separate orders instructing the registry to produce two copies of the testimony, the officials failed to comply. This led the bench to seek an explanation from the registrar (judicial listing).
Upon reviewing the explanations provided by the registrar and other staff members during the hearing on September 11, the court expressed its dissatisfaction. The court emphasized the importance of meticulously implementing its orders and advised any staff member with doubts to seek clarification through the Court Masters. While the court accepted the officials’ apology, it has listed the matter for further hearing on September 18, 2023.
By emphasizing the importance of adhering to simple instructions and the consequences of negligence, this incident underscores the Supreme Court’s commitment to ensuring that its proceedings run smoothly and efficiently.
