Judges often tell us not to read head notes of law reports. They also avoid reading it.
Supreme Court Cases (A Law report) is an exception. Since 44 Years this publication is printing Supreme Court Judgements with head notes and editorial notes.
Head notes means brief highlight of case, usually printed at start of a judgement.
This informs reader, whether he should further read the judgement or not. Will it be relevant to read further or not. It saves time.
But this has to be made by some competent person well versed in terminology of law.
The head notes and editorial notes are carefully prepared. And therefore they are considered more authentic. In many other law reports, judgement may be saying something else, and the headlines could be totally incorrect. This wastes time.
There is a heavy responsibility on person making head notes.
Haresh Raichura
1022