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"The Court cannot remain silent spectator to such acts of grave misconduct and deliberate defiance of orders passed by this Court by officers of the registry," observed Allahabad High Court on Monday directing departmental action against the Assistant Registrar of the High Court.

There was failure on part of the High Court registry to list a case as directed despite court's specific order. When enquired, the Assistant Registrar responded that court’s order was not liable to be complied with due to various administrative instructions.

Thereafter, when the bench of Justice Ajay Bhanot summoned the Assistant Registrar personally and asked him about the lapse on his part, he reiterated his stand and remained defiant.

Taking cognizance of this audacity, court termed Assistant Registrar’s conduct as interference with the administration of justice and directed for departmental action as per law.

Court noted, “Such conduct interferes with the administration of justice. In case such officials are given free run, public at large will lose faith in the judicial system.”

However, the court refrained from drawing contempt against him. Court said that “it was not appropriate to expend scarce judicial time by drawing contempt as it has to be used more fruitfully for the purposes of dispensing justice.”

Significantly, before parting, court remarked that "it is also open to the High Court to consider whether relaxing of qualitative requirements and eligibility criteria for appointments and promotion to responsible posts in the registry of this Court is conducive to good administration of justice or not."

The Assistant Registrar Sandeep Kumar's actions had come to light during the hearing of a bail petition. On January 19, 2022, the court had directed a particular bail plea to be placed in the list of fresh cases on January 20, however, neither the case was listed in the fresh case list nor the case file was sent to the court.

However, after Assistant Registrar's reluctance, when the Court had summoned the Registrar General to account for non-compliance of the order of the Court, he appeared in Court and also ensured prompt compliance of the order. Subsequently, the bail petitioner's counsel was duly informed and the bail application was taken up and heard.

Case title - Dlshad @ Dillu v. State of U.P