In the light of words such as "My Lord" and "Your Lordship" reflecting relics of Colonial post, the Punjab and Haryana has issued a note requesting the Members of the Bar to avoid addressing Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi as 'Your Lordship' Or 'My Lord'. Furthermore, he has also urged Bar Members to also avoid the usage of words such as 'Obliged' and 'Grateful'.
The rationale behind such an action is that these are terms and symbols attached with the long persisting slavery and hence should be strictly prohibited to be used in the courts throughout India as it is against the dignity of the country. Additionally, he also urges to be addressed in appropriate and respectful terms of attitude to the court such as “sir” instead of words like 'my lord' and 'your lordship'.
Furthermore, multiple judges have expressed their desire to not be called in such terms including Justice K. Chandru of Madras High Court, Justice S Muralidhar and Chief Justice Thottathil B. Nair Radhakrishnan of Calcutta High Court to name a few.
However, the judgment/order dismissing this PIL on 6 January 2006 could not be accessed. Reportedly, the Court had dismissed the PIL observing that it was a matter to be decided by the BCI as to how the Judges should be addressed. Following this, in 2007, the Kerala High Court Advocates' Association had unanimously resolved to stop addressing judges as 'My Lord' or 'Your Lordship'.
