Constitution of Rules Committees in certain States
Full Text
(1) A Committee, to be called the Rule Committee, shall be constituted at the town which is the usual place of sitting of each of the High Courts referred to in section 122.
(2) Each such Committee shall consist of the following persons, namely:—
(a) three Judges of the High Court established at the town at which such Committee is constituted, one of whom at least has served as a District Judge or a Divisional Judge for three years;
(b) two legal practitioners enrolled in that Court;
(c) a Judge of a Civil Court subordinate to the High Court.
(3) The members of each Committee shall be appointed by the High Court, which shall also nominate one of their number to be President.
(4) Each member of any such Committee shall hold office for such period as may be prescribed by the High Court in this behalf; and whenever any member retires, resigns, dies or ceases reside in the State in which the Committee was constituted, or becomes incapable of acting as a member of the Committee, the said High Court may appoint another person to be a member in his stead.
(5) There shall be a secretary to each such Committee, who shall be appointed by the High Court and shall receive such remuneration as may be provided in this behalf by the State Government.
Plain English Summary
Section 123 provides for the formal establishment, composition, and governance of the statutory Rule Committee at each High Court seat, comprising High Court Judges, senior advocates, and a subordinate civil judge to formulate and review procedural rule amendments.
Key Legal Elements
- Mandatory Institutional Body: Establishes a permanent Rule Committee at the principal seat of each High Court.
- Six-Member Composition: Three High Court Judges (one with District Judge experience), two enrolled advocates, and one subordinate civil court judge.
- High Court Appointment & Presidency: High Court appoints members, designates the Committee President, and fills casual vacancies.
- Tenure and Secretarial Machinery: Members hold office for periods prescribed by the High Court, supported by an official Secretary.
Practical Note
Composition & Functioning of the Rule Committee: (1) Balanced Stakeholder Representation: Section 123 ensures balanced institutional perspective when altering court procedure: the judiciary (High Court Judges and a trial/district judge) and the Bar (two enrolled advocates). At least one High Court Judge must have grassroots district judiciary experience (3 years as District Judge). (2) Advisory Function (Sec 124): The Rule Committee does not directly enact rules; under Section 124, it evaluates proposed procedural changes and submits formal reports/recommendations to the Full Court of the High Court.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) प्रत्येक ऐसे उच्च न्यायालय के, जो धारा 122 में निर्दिष्ट है, बैठने के प्रायिक स्थान वाले नगर में एक समिति गठित की जाएगी जिसे नियम समिति (Rule Committee) कहा जाएगा।
(2) प्रत्येक ऐसी समिति निम्नलिखित व्यक्तियों से मिलकर बनेगी, अर्थात्:—
(क) उस उच्च न्यायालय के तीन न्यायाधीश, जो उस नगर में स्थापित है जहाँ ऐसी समिति गठित की गई है, जिनमें से कम से कम एक ने तीन वर्ष तक जिला न्यायाधीश या प्रभागीय न्यायाधीश के रूप में सेवा की हो;
(ख) उस न्यायालय में नामांकित दो विधि-व्यवसायी (Advocates);
(ग) उच्च न्यायालय के अधीनस्थ किसी सिविल न्यायालय का एक न्यायाधीश।
(3) प्रत्येक समिति के सदस्य उच्च न्यायालय द्वारा नियुक्त किए जाएंगे, जो उनमें से किसी एक को अध्यक्ष (President) भी नामित करेगा।
(4) किसी ऐसी समिति का प्रत्येक सदस्य ऐसी अवधि के लिए पद धारण करेगा जो उच्च न्यायालय द्वारा इस निमित्त विहित की जाए; और जब कभी कोई सदस्य सेवानिवृत्त होता है, त्यागपत्र देता है, मर जाता है या उस राज्य में निवास करना बंद कर देता है जिसमें समिति गठित की गई थी, अथवा समिति के सदस्य के रूप में कार्य करने में असमर्थ हो जाता है, तब उक्त उच्च न्यायालय उसके स्थान पर किसी अन्य व्यक्ति को सदस्य नियुक्त कर सकेगा।
(5) प्रत्येक ऐसी समिति का एक सचिव होगा, जिसे उच्च न्यायालय द्वारा नियुक्त किया जाएगा और जो ऐसा पारिश्रमिक प्राप्त करेगा जैसा राज्य सरकार द्वारा इस निमित्त उपबंधित किया जाए।