The Supreme Court of India has released comprehensive “Guidelines for Retention and Destruction of Records – 2025” aimed at streamlining the management of administrative records across all branches of the Court’s Registry. While judicial records are governed by the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, and the 2017 Handbook, these new guidelines address a longstanding gap in the uniform handling of non-judicial files such as policy documents, inter-departmental correspondence, audits, and personnel files.
Approved by the Competent Authority, the Guidelines standardize retention periods and establish clear protocols for the preservation or weeding out of documents. Key principles include permanent preservation of critical records like signed submission notes of Hon’ble Judges and policy files, mandatory checks before destruction to ensure no pending litigation, and detailed retention schedules tailored to each branch of the Registry.
The initiative promotes transparency, reduces storage burdens, and enhances administrative efficiency, while ensuring compliance with legal, audit, and statutory requirements.
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