CJI Addresses Letter To All High Courts Expressing Reservations Regarding Usage Of Protocol Services Available To Judges

The Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud, through a letter dated 19 July, expressed his concern about the letter written by an Allahabad High Court official on behalf of Justice Gautam Chowdhary.

The letter by the official sought an explanation from Indian Railway authorities, for not meeting his requirements during a train journey.

The communication addressed by the CJI to all the high courts stated that letter has given justifiable criticism to the judiciary and required them to ensure that the protocol facilities that they get due to their position as a Judge should not be seen as a ‘manifestation of power and authority’ and as such should not be utilised to assert a claim to privilege which sets them apart from the society.

It states that a wise exercise of judicial authority on and off the bench is what sustains the credibility and legitimacy of the judiciary, which the society has in judges.

On 14 July, a letter was sent by the Registrar (Protocol) of the Allahabad High Court to the general manager of the North Central Railway, calling for explanation from the officials for not meeting his requirements in the first class AC-coach travel from New Delhi to Prayagraj.

The train was late for over three hours and no government railway police personnel was present in the coach to meet the requirements of the judge.

Additionally, the letter from the Allahabad High Court stated that no pantry car worker attended to the judge for providing refreshments.

The letter recently went viral on social media, when the judge was criticised for abuse of power.