Red Tapism Akin To Government Departments: Gujarat High Court Pulls Up Its Own Registry

The Gujarat High Court while pulling up the Registry over delay in installing CCTV cameras in the court premises has remarked that the excess time taken is akin to red tapism in government departments.

The Court pursued the report from the Registrar General and was surprised to know that though the order of installation of CCTV cameras was passed at the end of the year 2023 and was supposed to be implemented by January, 2024, it remains incomplete.

The Bench of Justice Sandeep N Bhatt observed, "This Court is reiterating that such direction in that order was required to be given for the larger interest of this august institution and considering the CCTV as desideratum and with a hope that the Registrar and concerned higher officials will consider the same as a bellwether for the other Courts, but unfortunately, it seems that the said order is considered as `a storm in a tea cup’ and viewed by predilection and therefore, though the Registry has initially made attempts to place such order before the concerned Committees for the purpose of implementation in true sense and the Purchase Committee as well as the IT Committee of this Court has also approved, thereafter, it seems that the concerned Registrar (IT) at the relevant point of time has tried to place this matter under the carpet by misleading the concerned persons. Otherwise, this much time which has taken for the completion of this process is unacceptable and this process can be equated with the process of the other departments of some of the government institutions whereby the Courts are observing that it is nothing but red tapism..."

The Applicants were represented by Advocate Vyom H. Shah, while the Respondents were represented by the Government Pleader.

The Court noted that it had passed the order by way of exhortation to see that the functioning which is going on in the premises of the highest Court of the State is transparent and in case of some wrongs which are alleged in the process, the same can be traced out with the help of such CCTV footages, however, it added that it seems that this attempt is misunderstood as renegade by the concerned persons.

Highlighting that such long delays are akin to red-tapism trend in government offices, the Court observed, ".....It is clarified that `red-tape’ refers to excessive or unnecessary bureaucratic rules, regulations and formalities that hinder or delay action, decision-making, or implementation processed. It is characterized by rigid adherence to formal procedures, often involving complex paperwork, multiple approvals and lengthy processes, even when those procedures add little or no value. Though this High Court as well as the Hon’ble Apex Court is insisting for implementation of CCTV cameras in all the important institutions like police stations, highways and important roads and offices of government institutions, such delay in the implementation of the order passed by this Court for installation of the CCTV cameras in the High Court is prima facie unbelievable and this Court is showing helplessness in such situation. In fact, the Registrars and Registry of this Court should be considered as Omnia paratus. Unfortunately, in the present case, for the reasons best known to the concerned Registrar, more particularly, Registrar (IT), the process is delayed and yet not completed. Even from the report, it transpires that it is still at the stage of finalization of specifications of the necessary cameras and for tendering for the procurement of the same."

This Court stated that it is expecting that the order will be complied with in its true letter and spirit by the concerned persons in the Registry as expeditiously as possible.

The Application was accordingly listed for August 26, 2025.

Cause Title: Babubhai Sampatbhai Pateliya & Ors. vs. State of Gujarat & Ors.

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