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Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan of the Allahabad High Court in a recent decision has held that Peshkars/ Readers who write down court orders should write it in a legible manner, failing which, it may be treated as misconduct.

The Division Bench observed the above while hearing a criminal case and noted that the orders were written in too bad a handwriting to be read properly.

The Court was dealing with a plea filed by one Savita Yadav seeking expeditious trial of the case registered upon her complaint against her Sections 498-A, 323, 504 & 506 Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 3/4 of Dowry Prohibition Act. 

The Court noted that the orders passed by the lower court were illegible, particularly “the order dated Jan 15, 2021, cannot be read”, the Court stated. In lieu of the same the High Court directed the District Judges across the state to issue standing directions to the Peshkars/Readers, who write the order-sheets that the orders should be written in a manner that can be read properly.

Stating that a poorly written order would result in misconduct, the Court noted:

Since the typed copy of the order/ orders of the learned courts below is filed before the High Court or Supreme Court, therefore, that order must be legible so that it can be correctly typed and brought before the Superior Courts.

The Court further held that, if the order is written in the order-sheet in a manner which can't be read clearly, the erring official should issue an explanation and thereafter he may be punished departmentally, as per law.

Cause Title: Savita Yadav v. State Of U.P. Thru. Secy. Home. Lko & Others