“Inform Chief Justice on administrative decisions”

The Madras High Court has issued a circular stating that the Chief Justice was not being informed of decisions taken by various committees of the High Court such as the Administrative Committee and Building Committee besides the Governing Body of the Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy.



The circular, bearing R.O.C. No.62/2010/Con.B2, issued by the Registrar General on October 25 warned court officials against implementing the decisions taken by those committees without bringing them to the knowledge of the Chief Justice. It went on to state that any deviation in this regard would be viewed seriously. At times, decisions taken by the committees were implemented even without the knowledge of the Chief Justice. When such matters were brought to his notice by “other persons,” it causes “embarrassment” to him, the circular stated and directed all section heads to bring all such decisions to his notice.

According to the communication, the Chief Justice had constituted various committees comprising High Court judges in order to assist him in taking decisions on diverse issues.

The Administrative Committee comprises the first seven senior judges of the High Court. It takes all major decisions relating to the administration of the institution. Decisions taken by the committee were implemented either directly or after obtaining the concurrence of the Full Court (all judges).

Similarly, the Building Committee, consisting of other High Court judges, was formed to deal with issues related to renovation, construction and maintenance of court buildings.

The Chief Justice was the patron-in-chief of the Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy governed by a Board of Governors comprising four judges of the High Court. The Academy was formed to impart judicial education to judges, judicial officers, court personnel and lawyers aspiring for judicial positions.