Delhi High Court issues show cause notice to its Listing Registrar

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice to its Registrar (Listing) to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him after he failed to before it despite express directions by the Court [Sh. Dilbagh Singh & Ors. vs Govt of NCT of Delhi and Ors.]..Justice Chandra Dhari Singh recorded that the contumacious conduct was not warranted and led to obstruction of administration of justice. "Such type of conduct of the Registrar (Listing) is neither warranted nor appropriate. The concerned officer has not only failed to discharge his official duty but also caused difficulty in proceeding with the instant matter by outrightly demeaning the authority of this Court. This negligence on his part has prima facie led to obstruction of administration of justice. Such conduct in the face of the order of this Court is nothing but contumacious," it stated.The Court had called out the Registrar for assistance after two advocates raised an issue regarding the listing of their writ petition. Their plea had been listed before a coordinate bench and in April, 2022 and was ordered to be re-notified on January 23, 2023. Despite reflecting in Tuesday's cause list as a connected matter in another writ petition, their plea was not listed before the Court, it was noted.For clarification, the Registrar (Listing) was called to assist the Court and to explain the issue regarding the listing of the said writ petition.When the matter was called out again after a while, the court master informed the court that despite conveying to the Registrar that his presence was sought, no communication was received from him..The Court waited a few minutes to enable him to appear before it but he failed to appear."The Court waited for a few minutes to enable the concerned officer to appear before the Court; however, the Registrar (Listing) has failed to be present before this Court despite express communication being duly made in this regard," it recorded.Hence, a show cause notice was issued to him to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him with four weeks' time given to reply.