Allahabad High Court orders installation of biometric system in Chief Standing Counsel office due to late coming by employees

The Allahabad High Court on Monday directed the State government to introduce the biometric system in the office of the Chief Standing Counsel (CSC) within two weeks so that the employees of CSC reach the office on time [Nar Singh & Ors v State]..Single- judge Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal was constrained to pass the direction, after noting that delay by employees in reaching CSC office on time was in turn leading to delay in files from CSC office reaching the Court on time. "This Court directs the Principal Secretary (Law) & L.R. Government of U.P. Lucknow to introduce biometric system in the office of Chief Standing Counsel, Allahabad within two weeks and he shall ensure that files of each and every matter listed in the Court reaches by 10.00 AM, when the Courts sits and start their judicial work," the Court ordered.The direction was passed after a counsel appearing for State in a case sought adjournment on the ground the case file had not come from CSC's office.The Court noted that Chief Standing Counsel, KR Singh, who was present in the Court earlier, had assured the Court that all the files will reach the Court on time and there was no need of a biometric system for attendance of the employees. However, despite the assurance of CSC, the files were yet to reach the Court, the judge noted."It is 11.10 AM and most of the files from the office of Chief Standing Counsel had not come. It has been informed that due to the late coming of the employees in the office of Chief Standing Counsel files are not being sent to the Court in time," the Court said.The Court further noted that this was not the first instance of the same happening."This Court feels that on last several occasions, the files have not come to the Court in time and the matters have been adjourned due to the fact that files of the Standing Counsel were not with them," the order stated.The Court further said that that the office of CSC was not functioning properly and the files were not reaching the Courts in time, due to the fact that the employees were not coming to the office of Chief Standing Counsel in time though the Standing Counsel are on time."It has also come to the knowledge of the Court that some of the employees from the office of Chief Standing Counsel are outsourcing staff who are bringing file to the Courts and are reaching office late. The time has come when there is requirement of biometric system for attendance of employees in the office of Chief Standing Counsel," the Court underlined.It, therefore, directed the Principal Secretary (Law) & L.R. Government of UP Lucknow, to remain present on January 16 and inform the bench about steps taken for implementing the biometric system in the office of CSC. .The bench also directed the Advocate General of State to take necessary action for smooth and proper working in the office of CSC, Allahabad..[Read Order]