The Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) has issued strong directions to curb an “unhygienic and condemnable” practice of using saliva to turn pages of paper books filed in court. Justice Shree Prakash Singh, while hearing an application under Section 482 observed that in over ten petitions presented that day, reddish saliva stains were found on the pages of case files.
The Court noted that such conduct, possibly occurring during filing by clerks, oath commissioners, or registry staff, was “highly unhygienic,” posed a risk of infection, and reflected a lack of basic civic sense. The Senior Registrar and Registry officials were directed to carefully examine all filings and reject any paper book containing saliva marks. The Government Advocate and Chief Standing Counsel were instructed to issue written directions to restrain such practices in their offices.
On the merits of the case, the applicants recorded tenure holders of land in Village Pipariya, District Bahraich sought quashing of a 20 December 2022 order of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) attaching their property under Section 146 CrPC in proceedings initiated under Section 145 CrPC, and a 6 March 2025 revisional order setting aside the SDM’s subsequent recall of attachment. They contended that the original attachment was obtained by private opposite parties by concealing material facts and without impleading the rightful landowners.
Justice Singh found that the revisional court had not addressed the applicants’ recall application, despite their recorded ownership of the disputed land. Noting that the matter required consideration, the Court issued notices to the private respondents, made them returnable at an early date, and directed filing of counter-affidavits.
Interim relief was granted by staying both the SDM’s attachment order (20.12.2022) and the revisional order (06.03.2025) until further hearing.
The matter is next listed in the week commencing October 27, 2025.
Appearances:
Applicant: Nirmit Srivastava, Aakchad Nath, Kshitij Gupta
Opposite Party(s) : G.A.
