287
Was paid as above stated.
I may also add that Mr. Rahman has for four years been a useful and zealous officer of the Court and I shall therefore be glad if a lesson can be sufficiently taught him without resort to the extreme measure of dismissal. My first thought was to summon him for a contempt of Court but I am inclined to think that, under the circumstances, there would be no advantage in the publicity which would follow such a proceeding.
The Shroff should I think be censured for receiving money without making at the time an entry in his petty cash book. His excuse that his accounts were closed is nonsense. The book contained consecutive entries of receipts.
As a matter of fact he did not make the entry until the Friday afternoon - 24 hours after the receipt of the money and some hours after it had been paid away.
As to the other officers concerned Mr. Sales is in my opinion much to blame for having allowed the list which it is his ordinary duty to prepare to be signed by the Registrar after it had been to his knowledge improperly altered by Mr. Rahman, and Mr. Brown is in a less degree to blame for not reporting the matter. On the whole I think warning and censure from myself will be sufficient in the case of the Shroff and that of Mr. Brown but that of Messrs. Rahman and Sales should be dealt with by Your Excellency.
I have etc.,
(signed) F. Clarke, Chief Justice.
His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.