Allahabad High Court Asks Judges To Avoid Recording Abusive Words In Witness Testimonies
The Allahabad High Court has directed all judicial officers in the State of U.P. to not record abusive language or filthy words made in evidence/ statements during trial.While dealing with a criminal revision against order of the Special Judge (SC/ST) Act, Varanasi, Justice Harvir Singh observed,“The recording of filthy languages and abusive words in the pleadings are unwarranted...
The Allahabad High Court has directed all judicial officers in the State of U.P. to not record abusive language or filthy words made in evidence/ statements during trial.
While dealing with a criminal revision against order of the Special Judge (SC/ST) Act, Varanasi, Justice Harvir Singh observed,
“The recording of filthy languages and abusive words in the pleadings are unwarranted and inappropriate, hence it is directed that not only the individual officer but all judicial officers of the state judiciary, shall take due precautions, avoiding the uses of such abusive or filthy language and words, those have been used in the order in question and the statement of PW-1 recorded on 30.04.2024. The decorum and dignity of the post be appeared to have been reflected in the language used in the judicial orders.”
Special Judge (SC/ST) Act, Varanasi dismissed the complaint under Section 203 Cr.P.C. of the revisionist on ground that there was no cogent evidence against the opposite parties. Against this, the revisionist approached the High Court on grounds that the statements of the witnesses were not considered.
On the merits of the case, Justice Singh observed that there was no coherence in the statements made by the witnesses and the material on record was not sufficient to make out a case against the opposite parties.
Dismissing the revision, the Court observed that the Special Judge had record abusive language and literal words while passing the order and also in the witness statement. On this, the Court observed that
“… the Hon'ble Apex Court, as well as this Court from time to time had directed that decent and normal language should be used, while passing the judicial order or in recording the statements of witnesses, but it appears that the Special Judge SC/ST Act did not pay any attention on the guidelines issued by the Hon'ble Apex Court, as well as this Court while getting the statement of PW-1 recorded or passing the order dated 07.08.2024 in question.”
Issuing directions to not use such language, the Court directed that the order be circulated amongst all judicial officers of the District Courts of State of U.P. to comply with. It also directed them to be careful in future and take precautionary measures.
Case Title: Santreepa Devi v. State Of Up And 06 Others