The Allahabad High Court recently delivered a critical view on the assignment of judicial responsibilities to administrative officers, emphasizing that such practices should not be dependent on the convenience of the presiding officer. The court’s observations came during the proceedings of Amar Singh Yadav v. State of UP and Others.
Judicial Discipline and Time Management
A bench comprising Justices JJ Munir and Indrajeet Shukla underscored the importance of discipline in judicial work, particularly concerning the adherence to time schedules for court sessions. The court emphasized that judicial processes should not be conducted in a sporadic or irregular manner, depending on the officer’s availability.
The justices stated, “Matters such as these should be considered by the State to be entrusted to trained and professional judges, who are not burdened with administrative duties and have a regular time schedule devoted entirely to judicial work.” This statement was part of the court’s order issued on August 21.
Case Background and Court’s Directive
The court was addressing a petition regarding a case filed under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, which had been pending before the Sub-Divisional Officer, Sadar, District Kanpur Nagar, for an extended period without resolution. The delay was attributed to the officer’s engagement in administrative tasks.
In defense, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) explained that hearings between July 1 and July 21 were not possible due to overwhelming administrative duties. However, the court found this explanation unsatisfactory and reiterated that when judicial functions are delegated to administrative officers, they must prioritize judicial responsibilities over other duties.
The Allahabad High Court instructed the SDM to expedite the case by scheduling hearings three days a week. Additionally, the SDM is required to update the court on the progress of the proceedings by September 15. Advocate Nikhil Pandey represented the petitioner in this matter.
