Supreme Court issues guidelines for retention, disposal of records

The Supreme Court on Thursday (June 26, 2025) issued guidelines for the retention and disposal of documents to create accountability and efficiency across all registry wings.The top court highlighted a lacuna over the management of administrative records.

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In a message, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai said that over the years, the registry of the Supreme Court has witnessed a significant increase in the volume and diversity of administrative records generated across multiple branches."While judicial records pertaining to case proceedings are governed by explicit provisions contained in Order LVI of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, and further elaborated in Chapter XXI of the Handbook on Practice and Office Procedure of the Supreme Court of India, 2017, a lacuna has persisted with respect to the management of administrative records," he said. The CJI continued, "This disparity leads to inconsistent practices across branches, affecting archival clarity and efficiency. The ‘Guidelines for Retention and Destruction of Records 2025' aim to remedy this by promoting coherence, accountability, and efficiency in managing administrative records, including institutional decisions, policy implementations, interdepartmental correspondences, audits, and engagements with external stakeholders."CJl Gavai underscored the importance of properly managing these records for transparency and accountability an