Do not visit High Court judges' residences to request transfers, favours: Madras High Court Registry to judicial officers

The Madras High Court Registry has instructed judicial officers across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry not to visit the residences of High Court judges to request transfers and promotions, or to seek any other favours. .A circular issued on June 21 by Registrar General (in-charge) M Jothiraman contains an extensive list of dos and don'ts for judicial officers. These include asking them to refrain from "presenting shawls, mementos, bouquets, garlands, fruits and gifts" etc, to High Court judges. The Code of Conduct laid out in the circular further said that judicial officers must not address any communication directly to High Court judges. "The communications are to be addressed only to the Registry and the Registry will place such papers immediately before the Hon’ble Chief Justice / Hon’ble portfolio judges for necessary action," the circular reads..The circular further said that judicial officers must "never, at any cost," leave their courts during working hours to receive or drop High Court judges visiting their districts, to the airport or train stations. It further instructed judicial officers not to stand or "wait on the roadside on the outskirts of a town or city" to receive visiting High Court judges."However, when the Hon’ble Judges of High Court make an official visit to any place by car, a responsible member of the staff shall receive the Hon’ble Judges at the outskirts of the town or city and guide the vehicle to ensure the safe arrival of the Hon’ble Judges at the place of accommodation without any inconvenience on the way," it stated.Another instruction stated,"There is no compulsion on the part of the Judicial pfficers to be present during the visit of Hon'ble Judges of High Courts, unless their presence is warranted officially or on courtesy call.".Moreover, judicial officers were requested to avoid wearing of black coats and black tie outside of court premises.The Registrar-General also directed all Principal District Judges/District Judges/Head of Units to share a copy of the code of conduct with all judicial officers functioning in their respective districts/units and instruct them to follow it scrupulously..[Read Circular]