: Filing of urgent cases in the Madras High Court Bench here on Saturdays, Sundays and other holidays is all set to become easier as the court has decided to ensure the presence of skeleton staff in almost all departments of the court on those days.
Registrar (Judicial) G. Ilangovan has made it mandatory for court staff to report for holiday duty and sign the register after giving a go by to the old system of summoning them over phone if any of the lawyers approach the court for filing cases citing urgency.
Circular issuedIn a circular issued to all officers of the court as well as heads of departments, the Registrar stated that great inconvenience was caused to the High Court Registry in the event of the officers deputed for holiday duty not turning up on time despite being informed over phone.
Hence, he ordered that all employees, including officers in the cadre of Assistant Registrar and Sub Assistant Registrar and other staff including Personal Assistant to judges, Court Officers, Clerks, photocopier operators and Office Assistants, compulsorily report for holiday duty. The circular also stated that the staff on holiday duty should not leave the headquarters without permission and without making alternative arrangements.
While a section of lawyers have welcomed the decision on the premise that it would encourage more number of litigants and their advocates to file cases on weekends and holidays too, it has come as a bolt out of the blue for the court staff.
“It is completely unfair to insist upon the staff to report for duty on holidays when it is very rare for lawyers to file cases on such days.
The circular could at best be seen only as an invitation to the lawyers to freely file cases on weekends and holidays too,” a court employee rued. However, a top level court official said the idea behind the circular was to curb the practice of court staff, deputed on holiday duty, leaving the headquarters without obtaining permission .
