Use Respectful Language, Maintain Decorum in Official Communication: Bombay High Court Cautions Magistrate

The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court has strongly reprimanded a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) for using inappropriate language in a note concerning delays in receiving High Court directions.

The Bench clarified that the magistrate had no authority to dictate how the High Court issues orders. The Court also found that communication delay claims were baseless, as the Registry had both emailed and posted the order.

Moreover, the magistrate had failed to ensure follow-up in a pending 2012 cheating and forgery case under Section 156(3) CrPC. The Court directed the police to complete the long-pending investigation immediately.