Judges should speak through judgements and orders, not issue oral directions:SC

Judicial accountability is lost where oral regimes prevail, the bench said.

Judges should speak through their judgements and orders and should not issue oral directions as it does not form a part of the judicial record and must be avoided, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday. The apex court said the element of judicial accountability is lost where oral regimes prevail and this would set a dangerous precedent and is unacceptable. A bench comprising Justices D. Y. Chandrachud and M. R. Shah made the observations in a judgement on an appeal against a verdict passed by the Gujarat High Court which issued oral direction not to arrest an accused in a case of cheating and criminal breach of trust.