The bench observed that the conduct of judicial officers in passing such orders “is objectionable and deserves to be deprecated”. (File Photo)Taking stern note of court orders being issued “mechanically” and “without applying judicial mind”, the Allahabad High Court quashed a trial court order that took cognizance of a chargesheet in an SC/ST Act case and issued summons to the accused. The reason? It had been passed on a printed proforma.Calling the order illegal and invalid, a single bench of Justice Madan Pal Singh in its April 24 order stated, “Despite a series of decisions of the apex court and this court disapproving such practice of passing orders on printed proforma, it is painful and unfortunate to note that the appellant in the present case has been summoned by such an order, wherein blanks have been filled in without applying judicial mind.”It observed that the conduct of judicial officers in passing such orders “is objectionable and deserves to be deprecated”.“The summoning of an accused in a criminal case is a serious matter, and the order must reflect that the Special Judge has applied his mind to facts as well as the law…,” the bench observed.The matter arose from an appeal filed by Raja alias Mohammad Alam; he challenged the chargesheet filed by the Kannauj Police in a case lodged on a complaint by a person from the Dalit community on May 22, 2022. Charges of assault, criminal intimidation, and under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were invoked.The appeal also challenged the Special Judge (SC/ST Act) Court, Kannauj, taking cognizance of the chargesheet and summoning the accused via an order dated November 23, 2022, as well as the entire case proceedings pending in the same court.In his submission, Alam’s counsel contended that the Special Judge did not apply judicial mind while passing the order as it was issued on a printed proforma in which the name of the accused, case number, and sections were filled in by hand.Story continues below this adCiting an apex court judgment, the counsel prayed for quashing of the trial court’s order.The Additional Government Advocate opposed the prayer, but admitted that the order had been passed on a printed proforma.After going through a certified copy of the summoning order, the HC observed it is evident it’s a typed proforma, in which the blanks have been filled in by the Special Judge, leading to the conclusion that the order has been passed in a mechanical manner without application of judicial mind.Justice Singh cited an order of a co-ordinate bench of the Allahabad High Court, which had not only castigated and deprecated the practice of passing proforma orders in a fill-in-the-blanks manner but had also directed the Registrar General to issue a circular.Story continues below this adIn its order, the bench directed the Special Court to pass a fresh, well-reasoned order after applying judicial mind to the facts of the case.Bhupendra Pandey is the Resident Editor of the Lucknow edition of The Indian Express. With decades of experience in the heart of Uttar Pradesh’s journalistic landscape, he oversees the bureau’s coverage of India’s most politically significant state. His expertise lies in navigating the complex intersections of state governance, legislative policy, and grassroots social movements. From tracking high-stakes assembly elections to analyzing administrative shifts in the Hindi heartland, Bhupendra’s reportage provides a definitive lens on the region's evolution. Authoritativeness He leads a team of seasoned reporters and investigators, ensuring that The Indian Express’ signature "Journalism of Courage" is reflected in every regional story. His leadership is central to the Lucknow bureau’s reputation for breaking stories that hold the powerful to account, making him a trusted figure for policy analysts, political scholars, and the general public seeking to understand the nuances of UP’s complex landscape. Trustworthiness & Accountability Under his stewardship, the Lucknow edition adheres to the strictest standards of factual verification and non-partisan reporting. He serves as a bridge between the local populace and the national discourse, ensuring that regional issues are elevated with accuracy and context. By prioritizing primary-source reporting and on-the-ground verification, he upholds the trust that readers have placed in the Express brand for nearly a century. ... Read More © The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:allahabad high court