Allahabad High Court News: Allahabad High Court has expressed surprise over the addition of the word 'Honourable' before the names of government officials in UP. The High Court has sought a reply from the UP government in this matter. The court asked the Principal Secretary of the Revenue Department how the government officials of the state are honourable. Under which protocol are they entitled to use the word 'Honourable' with their designation or name. The court has asked the Principal Secretary of UP to file an affidavit in this regard.

This order was given by a single bench of Justice JJ Munir while hearing the petition of Krishna Gopal Rathore of Etawah district. In this case, the DM of Etawah had used the word 'Honourable' with his designation in a letter written to the Commissioner of Kanpur. The court commented in its decision that it is often seen that in government correspondence, the word 'Honourable' is being used regularly with the name or designation of officials of various ranks of the state. The court has said that this is a surprising matter. 

Who can use the word 'Honourable'?
According to the court's decision, only those who are appointed as ministers and other important posts of the state can use the word 'Honourable'. How are the government officials working under the government using it? The High Court has asked the Principal Secretary of the Revenue Department to file an affidavit in this regard and clarify the situation. Along with the affidavit, information has also been sought about the protocol under which the officials are using the word 'Honourable' arbitrarily. 

The court has ordered the Registrar Implementation of the High Court to send a copy of the order to the Principal Secretary of the Revenue Department and the DM of Etawah through the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Lucknow and Etawah within 24 hours. The next hearing of this case in the High Court will be held on October 1 as a fresh case. An affidavit will be filed in the court on the same day by the Principal Secretary.