‘Mananiya’ Should Not Be Used for Bureaucrats, Allahabad High Court Questions Officials

Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has raised serious questions regarding the use of the term “Mananiya” (Honourable) for bureaucrats and state government officials. The court directed the Principal Secretary of the Revenue Department to submit a personal affidavit explaining under which law or protocol officials’ names or designations are being prefixed with “Mananiya.”

The order was passed by a division bench comprising Justice Ajay Bhanot and Justice Garima Prasad during the hearing of a petition filed by Yogesh Sharma. The bench specifically questioned why the designation “Additional Commissioner, Appeals” is being referred to as “Mananiya Additional Commissioner, Appeals.”

Court Observes Misuse in Official Correspondence
The court observed that this trend subtly undermines the status of constitutional authorities and the judiciary. In recent times, it has become increasingly common across state departments to prefix official orders and correspondence with “Mananiya” for officials ranging from the lowest to the highest ranks.

Clarifying Proper Usage
The bench clarified that the honorific “Mananiya” is appropriate only for ministers and other sovereign officeholders, not for bureaucrats or state government officers. The court also noted that the DM of Etawah addressed the Divisional Commissioner of Kanpur as “Mananiya Commissioner” in official correspondence, which is improper.

The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for 19 December 2025, as the court seeks detailed explanations from the Revenue Department.

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