Bar to protest rampant corruption in Telangana high court
The Telangana High Court Advocates Association (THCAA) has called for a protest on February 15 alleging gross corruption in the High Court.
THCAA secretary Jalli Narender said there is rampant corruption in the sections assigned with posting of cases and preparing order copies.
Officials posted in these two sections openly demand bribes for posting the cases in the daily list though the presiding officers issue court slips for posting the matters.
It has become a practice for some employees of the posting section in the High Court to list only fresh cases and those cases in which they receive bribes in top, while rest of the cases are either listed at the end or not listed at all. As the pendency gets piled up, old cases never come up for hearing, thereby denying justice for the people.
These matters – posting of cases and preparation and issue of orders copies – come under the purview of Registrar, Judicial. Except for hollow assurances, no action has been taken though the matter has been brought to the notice of the Registrar, Narender said.
Narender further said that several advocates have brought to his notice that the rampant corruption in these sections has become a huge burden on them.
“We have informed the Registrar, Judicial that the Bar Association members would organise a protest and submit a representation to the Chief Justice if action is not taken to check corruption”, Narender said. He appealed to all the advocates to join the peaceful protest and the subsequent submission of representation to the Hon’ble Chief Justice.
When contacted, Registrar, Judicial-1, Sura Srinivas Reddy rubbished the allegations as baseless.
Speaking to The Wallpost, Srinivas Reddy said, the Current Section, which deals with order copies, is working tirelessly to issue the order copies as quickly as possible to the advocates concerned or their clerks.
“The allegations of corruption against the staff are baseless. If anyone has any issue, do come to us and complain, will sort out the issue at the earliest”, Srinivas Reddy said.
“In view of the heavy workload, we have recruited around 100 persons recently and deputed 50 new staff to the Current Section to issue the order copies as quickly as possible”, he said. Order copies are issued at the most within 3 to 4 days after getting clearance, the Registrar said adding that he has not received any circular or notice from the Telangana High Court Advocates Association (THCAA) regarding the protest in the High Court scheduled for 15th February.