Is it a Judge who is Hon’ble or a Court?

It is neither necessary to refer to a court or committee as the "hon'ble" Supreme Court, High Court, or committee nor is it an insult or offence to not do so. We must correct it before it is too late and things go out of hand, writes JUSTICE YATINDRA SINGH.

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EVERYONE gets tips when they enter the Bar, and so did I. My first tip was to address judges of the Supreme Court and high courts as "Honourable Mr. or Ms. Justice" and judges of the lower courts with the prefix "Learned". This is because of the positions they hold. While writing, on the other hand, it was sufficient to affix a J. for judge after the name of the justice. No other words are still necessary or required. 

Judges are not entitled to be addressed as "hon'ble" or "learned" once they retire. Unlike in United States (and England earlier), judges are appointed in our country until they attain a particular age, not for life. The right way to refer to a retired judge is "Mr. or Mrs. Retired Judge…"

Broadly, the words "hon'ble" or "learned" are used for animate beings and not for inanimate objects or institutions such as the courts (higher or lower) or committees. They are neither entitled nor required to be referred to as "hon'ble" or "learned". However, their members may be entitled to the prefixes. Still, of late, the usage of these words has changed in our country.

Now, Indian writings and discussions on the media normally affix "hon'ble" before Indian courts, which are inanimate institutions. I do not remember reading British, American, or Australian writings in which the Privy Council, House of Lords, Supreme Court, or high courts are prefixed with "hon'ble". However, I have come across Indian writing in which "hon'ble" is used for these institutions—a term not used in their own countries. 

In our country, the President, Prime Minister, Chief Minister, and Minister are also addressed as "hon'ble". Members of the Parliament and so on. Some institutions are also addressed as "hon'ble" as if they are animate beings. Here, while writing, prefixing the right word, be it President, Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Member of Parliament is sufficient—others terms are unrequired.