But then, the magistrate had not come across “I am new to the job” syndrome that was sweeping the department concerned.

It all happened at a Karkardooma court, when Metropolitan Magistrate Devender Kumar asked the court’s Process Server, Constable Devi Sharan, to execute a bailable warrant to an accused in a criminal case.

A Process Server has to ensure that the court’s summons and warrants are handed over specifically to the person concerned. He also has to report to the court after the job is done.

In the present case, however, to the utter shock of the court, the constable informed the magistrate about the “proper execution” of the warrant — “in the absence of the accused”.

Rapped by the court for not adhering to the procedure, the constable offered this explanation: “Sir, I am new to the job and have been recently posted in the Summons Cell and hence I am not aware of the proper mode of execution of the warrant”.

Kumar then summoned the man’s senior, the Branch in-charge Dinesh Singh, to clarify things. But he too dished out the same plea: that he was also “new to the job” and did not know much about the manner in which a warrant is to be executed.

Fuming over the explanations, the magistrate finally called in their senior officer, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Vivek Vihar police station.

But he had another surprise coming.

The SHO submitted that he, too, was “new to the job” in the police station and would ensure proper execution of the processes in future.

Irked by the pretexts, Kumar eventually had to ask the SHO of Preet Vihar police station to get the warrant served.

“The conduct of all the concerned officials amounts to negligence” noted the magistrate, who was fed up with “I am new to the job” excuse. Terming as “mechanical” the way in which court’s processes were being executed, he also apprised the concerned DCP of the conduct and excuse of the policemen.