“Huge pressure of work” no excuse: Calcutta HC chides Court Registry [Read Order]

The Calcutta High Court recently had an occasion to chide members of the Court registry, noting that if they are not able to perform their duties citing “huge pressure of work”, it would be better that they quit their jobs..Justice Biswanath Somadder pulled up the Assistant Court Officer (ACO) of a Court who cited work pressure for his failure to send in certain court files on time..The Court had called for an explanation over the missing court files from the Registrar (Administration). The Registrar, in turn, referred to a note by the Joint Registrar, through which it was disclosed that the ACO could not send in the relevant application to the Stam Reporter Section in time “due to huge pressure of work“..Taking objection to the same, Justice Somadder observed,.“‘Huge pressure of work’ cannot be an excuse. If the concerned A.C.O. is unable to handle ‘huge pressure of work’, then he should simply quit. On the other hand, if he is thoroughly incapable, even then, he should quit. The concerned A.C.O., however, cannot give a reason that “due to huge pressure of work” he has not been able to perform his duty.“.The Court went on to direct the Registrar General to inform all Court registry employees that if they cite such reasons for their failure to carry out their work, it may be construed as an indicator of their unwillingness or inability to perform. Such persons may be given the option to voluntarily retire from service, opined the judge..“… if they [Court registry employees] are unable to perform their duties citing “huge pressure of work” as a reason, it may be construed that they are either unwilling to perform their duties or are simply incapable of performing their duties for which they are receiving salary from the State exchequer. .Those employees, who cite “huge pressure of work” as a reason for not being able to perform their duties up to the expectation of the Court, shall be given an option to voluntarily retire from service if the same is permissible in accordance with the extant rules governing their services.“.Read the Order: