New Delhi: The Allahabad High Court (HC) has issued a firm directive to the Supreme Court of India (SC), asking it to maintain a “hands-off” approach regarding service rules and administrative control of the district judiciary in Uttar Pradesh. 
In a strongly worded communication on Wednesday, the HC stated that oversight of the district judiciary falls within its constitutional jurisdiction under Article 227, and asserted that the SC’s push for uniform service rules for state judicial officers represented an encroachment on its domain. 
“Let High Courts frame service rules for judicial officers,” the Allahabad High Court reportedly told the SC, emphasising its intent to preserve autonomy over administrative decisions including promotions, postings and quotas within the state judiciary. 
The tension stems from a two-decade-long unease among High Courts that the Supreme Court’s efforts to standardise judicial service conditions are undermining their supervisory powers. The SC, on its part, maintains that the aim is uniformity rather than invasion of authority. 
Legal experts say the dispute highlights a deeper constitutional question: the balance between centralised policy on judicial administration and the autonomy of High Courts in India’s federal structure. The Allahabad HC’s pushback indicates its readiness to defend administrative independence.
The matter now has potential ramifications not only for Uttar Pradesh but for the judiciary across states, as it may influence how future service rules, transfers and cadre posts are governed. With both courts standing firm, observers expect further hearings and clarifications in the coming weeks.
