The Allahabad High Court has raised questions on the use of adjectives like ‘Honourable’ while addressing administrative officers. The court has even asked the state government whether there is any protocol to address officers by adding adjectives like ‘Honourable’ before their names or designations. If there is, the court should be informed, it added.
Recently, while hearing the petition of Krishna Gopal Rathore of Etawah, a single bench of Justice JJ Munir has asked the Principal Secretary Revenue to file an affidavit in this regard.
During the hearing of the petition, it came to the notice of the court that the Collector Etawah addressed the Divisional Commissioner Kanpur Division by writing ‘Honourable Commissioner’ in an official letter.
Following this, the court said that such a practice is being followed repeatedly while addressing state officials in government correspondence amid lack of clarity whether there is any such protocol specifying this practice or not.
The court said that adjectives like ‘Honourable’ are definitely used with ministers and other sovereign executives. However, it is not known whether its use is appropriate for Secretaries serving the government or not. The court has directed the Principal Secretary Revenue to file an affidavit regarding this issue by October 1.
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