Subtle way to diminish status of courts: Allahabad High Court slams trend of ‘honourable’ prefix for bureaucrats

“There is a recent trend where the ranks of various State officials from the lowest to the highest levels are being preceded with “Honourable” in correspondence as well as orders,” the court observed.

Clarifying the position, the court observed that the prefix “Honourable” is meant to be used only for Hon’ble ministers and other sovereign functionaries, and not for bureaucrats or government officials serving under the State.

“This Court has already noticed that the word honourable has to be prefixed only in case of Hon’ble Ministers and other sovereign functionaries. The same does not hold good for bureaucrats or officials of the State Government,” it said.

Krishn Gopal Rathore v. State of UP

In support of its observations, the Bench referred to an earlier order passed by a single judge of the high court in Krishn Gopal Rathore v. State of UP and others, where similar concerns were raised regarding the use of the term “Honourable” for officials like divisional commissioners in official correspondence.

In that case the single bench had observed that the word “Honourable” is to be prefixed in the case of hon’ble ministers and other sovereign functionaries, but not for secretaries serving the State government.

The court directed the principal secretary, department of state taxes, government of Uttar Pradesh, to file a personal affidavit explaining the authority under which such prefix was used.

“Principal Secretary, Department of State Taxes, Government of U.P. shall file his personal affidavit disclosing the authority of law under which an Additional Commissioner, Appeal is to be referred as Hon’ble Additional Commissioner, Appeal,” the order read.