HC orders probe into missing judicial record in Ludhiana court

The HC bench of justice, Harsh Bunger, directed district and sessions judge, Ludhiana that a fact finding inquiry be conducted and responsibility of the officials concerned be fixed and same be communicated to the HC

The Punjab and Haryana high court has ordered an inquiry into the disappearance of documents from a judicial file in a Ludhiana district courts.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has ordered an inquiry into the disappearance of documents from a judicial file in a Ludhiana district courts.

The HC bench of justice, Harsh Bunger, directed district and sessions judge, Ludhiana that a fact finding inquiry be conducted and responsibility of the officials concerned be fixed and same be communicated to the HC.

The direction came while dismissing a petition against a lower court order, wherein plaintiff was permitted to prove the document by way of secondary evidence or by producing the original.

The case stems from a recovery of ₹32 lakh for which a gurdwara had filed a recovery suit against a former office bearer. It was based on a report prepared by a three-member committee that looked into the allegations of embezzlement of funds.

During the proceedings in court, the gurdwara filed an application seeking directions to the civil ahlmad (record keeper) to trace the three-member committee report as it was found missing from the judicial file.

The civil court disposed of the application, asking the petitioner to provide secondary evidence or the original record. During the proceedings of a petition filed to challenge this order, the HC has now ordered an inquiry.