Judges of Delhi’s district courts will soon be seen flaunting new fancy mobile phones. Their old and outdated Nokia 6600s will make way for any model and brand costing a maximum of Rs 10,000.

According to a circular issued by District and Sessions Judge Mamta Sehgal on January 23, all judicial officers, including the 27 newly inducted judges, have been informed that they can go ahead and buy the cellphones of their choice.

The offer, however, comes with a condition. The judges will not be given any money in advance to buy the phones.

The circular also makes it clear that the phones will be the property of the office of the District and Sessions Court and that “each judicial officer will be responsible to maintain his/her phone during the warranty period”.

As far as the old Nokia 6600 sets, purchased in March 2006 and “declared condemned”, are concerned, the judges have been given two options. They can either retain the sets after depositing Rs 500 with the cash branch, “preferably within five days”, or simply return them to the court.