Supreme Court Issues Comprehensive Guidelines for the Retention and Destruction of Administrative Records

The Supreme Court of India has issued structured guidelines for the retention and destruction of non-judicial records under administrative purview, addressing a gap left by the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, and the 2017 Office Procedure Handbook.

The rules cover institutional decisions, financial files, and internal orders, specifying timelines ranging from 3 months to permanent preservation. Key branches like Admin I, Accounts, Vigilance, and Protocol now follow detailed retention schedules. Records under litigation or audit are exempt from destruction.

The new framework ensures digital preservation with registrar approval and mandates disposal during court recess to minimise disruption, modernising judicial administration under Articles 145 and 146 of the Constitution.