Upload judgments online the day they are pronounced: Bombay High Court to judicial officers

The Bombay High Court has directed all judicial officers in Maharashtra and Goa to ensure that orders and judgments passed by them are uploaded on the CIS server on the same day.

If an order or judgment is not uploaded on the same day, the officer must furnish details and reasons for the delay. 

Failure to upload orders or judgments within the stipulated time will amount to “misconduct touching to the integrity of judicial officer”.

Judicial officers have also been asked to submit a monthly certificate in the prescribed format, confirming that uploading has been done within time.

The circular warns that if any discrepancy is found in the information supplied in this certificate, the concerned judicial officer will be placed under suspension with departmental enquiry being dispensed with.

Further, all judicial officers have been categorically directed not to retain court files with them after disposal of the case.

The circular is addressed to all judicial officers through the Principal District and Sessions Judges, who are required to bring these directions to the notice of officers under their control and ensure compliance.

The High Court's current directions stemmed from concerns previously highlighted in a communication dated January 9, 2020. This earlier communication was based on inspections of subordinate courts. 

The High Court Registrar's inspection revealed several irregularities among subordinate judicial officers. These included deviations from prescribed court timings, such as sitting late past 11 am and leaving early before the court hours are over.

Further issues involved case management - judgments were often not uploaded immediately or were kept reserved for extended periods, evidence was not recorded even when matters were scheduled and judicial officers left headquarters without prior intimation.

To address deficiencies, judicial officers were strictly directed to adhere to court hours promptly upload judgments and avoid prolonged delays in pronouncing judgments.

[Read Circular]