The Delhi High Court calls for the urgent need for action to address the concerning state of record rooms in district courts. Emphasizing the severity of the situation, the court stressed the importance of expeditiously weeding out files and implementing regular monitoring procedures.
NEW DELHI: Recently, The Delhi High Court raised concern over the condition of record rooms in district courts, where case documents are stored. Describing the situation as “grim,” the court emphasized the need for expeditiously weeding out records and implementing regular monitoring.
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To ensure progress in this regard, the court directed the principal district and session judges of all district courts in Delhi to oversee the process and take effective measures.
The Delhi High Court, comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet P. S. Arora, was informed by the counsel for the Delhi High Court administration about the amendments made, the establishment of committees to monitor the weeding-out process, and the removal of approximately 52,000 files.
“The bench emphasized that while acknowledging the dire state of record rooms in district courts, it is imperative to swiftly and consistently oversee the process of discarding outdated records.”
While progress has been made with 52,167 files already weeded out, the court acknowledged that the situation in the record rooms of district courts remains a cause for concern. Therefore, it emphasized the need for expediting the process and ensuring regular monitoring.
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To address this issue effectively, the high court instructed the principal district and session judges of all district courts to submit quarterly reports on the progress of weeding out records. The next compliance hearing is scheduled on September 2. This approach aims to streamline the administrative procedures and improve the management of case records in the Delhi district courts.
The High Court also addressed another matter concerning the centralised filing of interim applications and their registration. The counsel for the High court informed the court that the centralised filing system has been implemented across all district courts.
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Additionally, mandatory e-filing has been extended to civil and criminal complaint cases in the district courts since April 1, 2024. Advocates and parties are now required to submit all interim applications and documents through the designated e-filing portal to ensure efficient registration.
