Allahabad HC: Administrative Officers Should Not Hear Cases at Convenience

The Allahabad High Court recently observed that entrustment of judicial duties to administrative officers, who preside over cases according to their convenience, was not a good idea [Amar Singh Yadav v. State of UP and Others].A Bench of Justices JJ Munir and Indrajeet Shukla emphasised that judicial work requires discipline, particularly time schedules for court sittings. It cannot be haphazard and according to the convenience of the presiding officer, the Court added. However, the Court also acknowledged that the question falls in the realm of policy-making of the State."We would again emphasize that 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," the Court remarked in an order passed on August 21.Justice JJ Munir and Justice Indrajeet ShuklaAllahabad High CourtJudicial work has a certain discipline. The foremost is the time schedule of the Court sitting. It cannot be haphazard and according to the convenience of the Presiding Officer.The Court was hearing a petition alleging that a case filed under Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 was pending before the Sub-Divisional Officer, Sadar, District Kanpur Nagar, for a prolonged period without any orders. In response, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) said that hearing of the case could not be held between July 1 and