Published Sep 09, 2026 | 6:43 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 09, 2026 | 6:43 PM
The Telangana High Court. (Official website)
The Indian judicial system seems to be touching new lows.
In an episode that reeks of the rot that has set in at various levels, a chief judge at the district level in Telangana issued written instructions to the rank and file to be in “attendance” to perform tasks clearly outside their professional work.
Guess what work they had been assigned? To be at the service of “Lordships” who would be attending the rituals being conducted for the father of a sitting judge of the Telangana High Court who passed away recently. The rituals were scheduled for September 6, 2026.
The set of instructions issued by the Principal District Judge of Nizamabad says: “Officers allotted to the Hon’ble Lordships are requested to remain with the respective Lordships from the time of their arrival/entry into Nizamabad until their departure.”
“The officers designated at the respective locations/venues, namely Guest House, residence of the judge and the burial ground, shall remain in contact with the protocol officer for receiving necessary updates and instructions,” the circular said, listing out the timings as well: Lordship residence 5 am; Venue @ 9 am; Guest house @ 8 am; Burial ground @ 8 am.
Different staff were assigned for different places to ensure “smooth conduct” of the programme.
“The officers deputed at the residence of the Lordship shall remain in constant touch with the Lordship for attending to any work. They shall also coordinate with a relative of the Lordship regarding arrangements at the burial ground,” the order read.
Perhaps this was the most interesting part of the instructions: “Wearing of blazers is not required. Any instruction regarding dress code shall be communicated separately.”
Apart from the bereaved HC judge, Alishetty Laxmi Narayana, some of his colleagues and advocates are said to have attended the ceremony. Laxmi Narayana, who hails from Nizamabad, was sworn in as a judge of the Telangana HC in February 2025.
However, the issuance of such a circular is said to have come to the notice of the Telangana High Court Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, and he was not amused. Justice Singh is understood to have rebuked the principal district judge (PDJ, who happens to be a woman, and directed her to withdraw the instructions.
What is unclear is why and how such instructions were issued in the first place. South First could not independently verify if the instructions were sent out on the suggestion of the HC judge or if it was an overzealous act by the PDJ.
The usual practice is that the designated “protocol officer” at the district level oversees the arrangements in coordination with State Government officials whenever an HC judge visits any district. Summoning the entire judicial machinery at the district level for a “purely personal event” involving an HC judge was what raised eyebrows.
In what is seen as a follow-up action, the Telangana High Court’s registrar-general on September 8 shared a list of do’s and don’ts to be followed when Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts come calling to the Districts either on personal or official duty.
The first three points in the circular that had an 18-point list in all, were emphatic:
No Judicial officer shall attend to receive or see off the Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court, Judges of High Courts or other dignitaries on their Lordship’s at Airport/ Railway Station or any other mode, except the protocol officer and Staff of the protocol wing.
No Judicial Officer shall visit the Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts or other dignitaries, during their Lordship’s visit, even beyond office hours.
No Judicial Officer shall call on the visiting Hon’ble dignitaries, unless and until they are specifically called for official purposes only.
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