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Stop calling lower courts: Punjab and Haryana High Court bars common terms, directs using district courts, trial courts

In 2024, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, had directed the registry of the Court to not refer ‘trial courts’ as ‘lower courts.

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jan 14, 2026 02:50 PM IST

Punjab and Haryana High Court issued the cicrular dated December 24, 2025 (Image generated using AI)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed all courts in the states of Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh to be referred to as “district courts/district judiciary/trial courts”.

In a circular uploaded on high court’s website on January 14, the high court directed that the terms “subordinate judge/subordinate courts/lower courts” should not be used in the official correspondence and in the high court and the district courts.

“Hon’ble the Chief Justice and Judges have been pleased to direct that henceforth, all the Courts in the States of Punjab, Haryana and U.T. Chandigarh other than the High Court, shall be referred to as “District Courts/District Judiciary/Trial Courts”. The terms “Subordinate Judge/Subordinate Courts/Lower Courts” shall not be used in the official correspondence as well as in the judicial functioning of the High Court as well as the District Courts, unless the same is inevitable,” the circular dated December 24, 2025 read.

The circular was uploaded on high court’s website on January 14.

Also Read | District judiciary crucial component of rule of law, calling it subordinate must be stopped: CJI

Supreme Court’s ruling

In 2024, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, had directed the registry of the Court to not refer to the ‘Trial Courts’ as ‘Lower Courts.

“It will be appropriate if the Registry of this Court stops referring to the Trial Courts as ‘Lower Courts’. Even the record of the Trial Court should not be referred to as Lower Court Record (LCR). Instead, it should be referred to as the Trial Court Record (TCR),” the bench had said.

In a judgment passed last year by the division bench of Justices Oka and Augustine George Masih, the court had reiterated its direction that the record of the Trial Court should not be referred to as “Lower Court Record”.

“Describing any Court as a “Lower Court” is against the ethos of our Constitution,” the court had said.

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In 2024, the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud had said district judiciary is the “backbone of the judiciary” and thus a crucial component of the rule of law and calling it subordinate must be stopped.

“The district judiciary is therefore called upon to shoulder tremendous responsibility and is aptly described as the ‘backbone of the judiciary’,” Justice Chandrachud said, adding, “The spine is the core of the nervous system. To sustain the spine of the legal system, we must stop calling the district judiciary the ‘subordinate’ judiciary”.

Ashish Shaji

Ashish Shaji is a Senior Sub-Editor at The Indian Express, where he specializes in legal journalism. Combining a formal education in law with years of editorial experience, Ashish provides authoritative coverage and nuanced analysis of court developments and landmark judicial decisions for a national audience. Expertise Legal Core Competency: Ashish is a law graduate (BA LLB) from IME Law College, CCSU. This academic foundation allows him to move beyond surface-level reporting, offering readers a deep-dive into the technicalities of statutes, case law, and legal precedents. Specialized Legal Reporting: His work at The Indian Express focuses on translating the often-dense proceedings of India's top courts into clear, actionable news. His expertise includes: Judicial Analysis: Breaking down complex orders from the Supreme Court and various High Courts. Legal Developments: Monitoring legislative changes and their practical implications for the public and the legal fraternity. Industry Experience: With over 5 years in the field, Ashish has contributed to several niche legal and professional platforms, honing his ability to communicate complex information. His previous experience includes: Lawsikho: Gaining insights into legal education and practical law. Verdictum: Focusing on high-quality legal news and court updates. Enterslice: Working at the intersection of legal, financial, and advisory services. ... Read More