Allahabad HC Directs Regular Inquiry Proceedings Against Persons Entering HC Record Room Without Due Authorization [Read Order]

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Senior Registrar of the court to initiate regular inquiry proceedings to find out how many non-employees/ unauthorized persons have been entering in various sections, record rooms etc., of the court and to bring them to books.

The issue came to the notice of the division bench comprised by Justice Ajai Lamba and Justice Narendra Kumar Johari when the court's file of a writ petition was misplaced, presumably to defer the hearing. On perusal of the CCTV footage of the record room it was found that one, namely Manoj Kumar, entered in the Miscellaneous Bench Section and on an opportunity to hide the file, committed offences under Sections 380 and 411 of Indian Penal Code. To the court's surprise, he was not an employee serving in the Registry of the Court and despite that he had his way into the premises, without any difficulty.

"It appears that in the record rooms of the High Court and various Sections of the High Court outside persons are regularly being allowed to roam around. This is a cause of serious concern because some undesirable element might indulge in destruction of records by fire, etc. Presence of unauthorized persons in such sensitive areas where records are kept and maintained is a security risk and threat to the Court itself", the bench said.

Consequently, the court issued directions to seal all CCTV footage relating to record rooms and various sections of the high court for preceding one month to examine and find out how many non-employees/unauthorized persons have been entering and working in various sections and record rooms etc., of the high court and to punish them under the service rules and regulations. 

Click here to download the Order