After Allahabad HC Judge requested a response from the railways, the CJI advised against using protocol facilities to assert privilege

In a letter to the chief justices of all the high courts, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said that the protocol services provided to judges should not be utilized in a way that annoys others or attracts public condemnation of the judiciary.

A recent event in which an Allahabad High Court judge demanded an explanation from railroad personnel for allegedly not fulfilling his criteria while traveling by train from Delhi to Prayagraj served as the impetus for the CJI’s letter.

Later, a letter asking for clarification on the matter was written to the General Manager of the North Central Railway, Prayagraj, by the Registrar (Protocol) of the Allahabad High Court.

The CJI expressed unhappiness in his letter over the judge’s request for an explanation from the railroad authority.

“My attention has been called to a message dated July 14, 2023, sent to the General Manager of the regional railway establishment by the Registrar in Charge of the Protocol Section of one of our High Courts. The letter refers to a High Court judge who was on a train with his spouse, the CJI said in his letter.

“A High Court judge does not have disciplinary authority over railroad employees. There was thus no need for a High Court official to request that the railroad workers “be placed before His Lordship for kind perusal.” In this case, it is clear that the High Court official was following a judge’s directive, according to the CJI’s letter dated July 19.

According to Chandrachud’s letter, there is legitimate concern both within and outside the court about the communication.

“Protocol ‘facilities’ made accessible to judges shouldn’t be used to demonstrate their authority or to make a claim to privilege that separates them from society. The judiciary’s integrity and legitimacy, as well as the public’s trust in its judges, are maintained through the prudent use of judicial power, both on and off the bench, the CJI noted.

In a letter sent to all chief justices of the high courts, Chandrachud said that he was asking them to convey his concerns to all of their court colleagues.

According to reports, the General Manager of the North Central Railway was alerted about the train’s delay and the High Court judge’s lack of attention by railway workers in a letter from the Registrar (Protocol) of the Allahabad High Court.

“The train was almost three hours late. Despite repeated notifications to the TTE, no GRP employees were discovered in the carriage to fulfill His Lordship’s demands. Furthermore, despite repeated requests, no pantry car staff members came to serve His Lordship drinks. Additionally, when the pantry car manager was called, no one answered the phone. The email allegedly said that the aforementioned situation caused His Lordship much discomfort and annoyance.

“In this regard, the Hon’ble Judge has desired that explanation may be called from the erring officials of the Railways, the GRP Personnel, and the Pantry Car Manager pertaining to the inconvenience caused to His Lordship due to their conduct and dereliction of duty,” it is said to have further noted.