Bombay High Court Mandates Immediate Judgment Upload or Suspension
The long-standing issue of citizens waiting for court orders to be uploaded for days or even months has now received a strict directive. The Registrar General of the Bombay High Court, Swapnil C. Khati, issued an official letter (No. RG/1611/67/2026) on April 4, 2026, to all judges in Maharashtra and Goa. This letter provides clear instructions: judges must upload their orders and judgments to the CIS Server on the very same day they are pronounced. A stern warning has been issued, stating that if uploading on the same day is not possible, a detailed explanation with reasons must be provided.
The directive explicitly states that failure to upload orders within the stipulated time will be considered misconduct related to the judge's integrity. Furthermore, a mandatory rule has been implemented requiring judges to submit an 'Annexure A' certificate every month. The directive warns that any discrepancy found in the submitted information will lead to direct suspension without a departmental inquiry.
This order marks a crucial step towards bringing transparency to the judicial system. When judgments are not uploaded, citizens are deprived of information, and RTI applicants face delays in obtaining documents, leading to a delay in justice. Therefore, this is not merely an administrative reform but also a protection of citizens' right to information. Ensuring immediate public access to court orders is a fundamental principle of democracy, and today, the High Court has authoritatively upheld this ideal.
Source: CourtBeat News (Kannada)
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