Treat Doctor, Medical Witnesses with Dignity: High Court tells Judicial Officers

Telangana: Responding to the letter to the High Court for the State of Telangana sent by a Civil Assistant Surgeon, Area Hospital, who had a warrant issued against him on account of being late for a hearing, the Telangana High Court recently reminded all judicial officers to treat medical witnesses with dignity.

In his letter the Dr. B.M. Chandrasekar, Civil Assistant Surgeon, Area Hospital, Suryapet, brought to the notice of the High Court that summons were served on him to attend the Court on 13.12.2018 in connection with a case and that he went to the Court on 13.12.2018 at 11.10 am after finishing some Surgical Work at the Area Hospital. The Judge curtly informed that as he was not present at 10.30 am, the case was adjourned and a warrant was issued against him. He was discourteously treated by the Court and that therefore requested to direct all the Judicial Officers in the State to deal with expert witness in a decent and humane way and not to harass them unnecessarily.

Taking serious cognisance of the letter, the High Court for the State of Telangana issued a circular all the unit heads, judicial officers as well as the registrar of the high court reiterating  the Earlier Instructions in the matter and clear cut stating that medical witnesses have to be treated with dignity

As directed, attention of all the Judicial Officers in the State are drawn to the Circular instructions of the High Court, wherein the following instructions are given with regard to medical witnesses:

1) Fixing uniform time through out the State for deposition by Medical Witnesses.

2) Allowing the Medical Witnesses to sit along with Lawyers, if they observe the dress code.

3) Giving the seven days clear notice while issuing summons to Medical Witnesses show as to enable them to take alternative arrangements, etc.

4) Treating the medical witnesses with dignity.

" Therefore, the High Court hereby reiterates the earlier circulars issued by the High Court in the matter (Copy enclosed) and directs all the Judicial Officers in the State of Telangana to follow the above instructions scrupulously," the circular added