A division bench of Apex Court passed following order prohibiting mentioning of caste/religion of any litigant either before it or the courts below, while allowing the transfer of a RCR case from Rajasthan to Punjab.
From Para 7,
7. Further, liberty is granted to the respondent-husband to move an appropriate application before the transferee Court for permission to participate in the proceedings virtually. If such a request is made, the transferee Court may grant such permission and direct the personal presence of the respondent-husband only when it is absolutely necessary. Further, if examination of outstation witnesses is required and a request is made for recording the evidence through a Court Commissioner, the transferee Court shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders.
From Paras 10-12,
Shama Sharma Vs Kishan Kumar on 10 Jan 202410. Before parting with this matter, we have noted with surprise that the caste of both the parties has been mentioned in the memo of parties, besides their other details. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that if the memo of parties as filed before the courts below is changed in any manner, the Registry raises an objection and in the present case as the caste of both the parties was mentioned before the court below, he had no option but to mention their caste in the Transfer Petition.
11. We see no reason for mentioning the caste/religion of any litigant either before this Court or the courts below. Such a practice is to be shunned and must be ceased forthwith. It is therefore deemed appropriate to pass a general order directing that henceforth the caste or religion of parties shall not be mentioned in the memo of parties of a petition/proceeding filed before this Court, irrespective of whether any such details have been furnished before the courts below. A direction is also issued to all the High Courts to ensure that the caste/religion of a litigant does not appear in the memo of parties in any petition/suit/proceeding filed before the High Court or the Subordinate Courts under their respective jurisdictions.
12. The above directions shall be brought to the notice of the members of the Bar as well as the Registry for immediate compliance. A copy of this order shall be placed before the Registrar concerned for perusal and for circulation to the Registrar Generals of all the High Courts for strict compliance.