State to frame norms for action in cases of missing files

Nearly a year after documents pertaining to the Adarsh scam went missing from the Mantralaya, the state is in the process of framing policy guidelines for action to be taken in case a file goes missing from the building again.

Nearly a year after documents pertaining to the Adarsh scam went missing from the Mantralaya, the state is in the process of framing policy guidelines for action to be taken in case a file goes missing from the building again.

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Public prosecutor Pandurang Pol informed the Bombay high court that the final guidelines would be issued within two weeks.

The issue of missing files cropped up during the hearing of murder convict, Chintaman Kedari's case. The 62-year-old, had sought premature release on the ground of parity citing the case of his co-accused, Shankar Mhatre, who had been released after completing 14 years in prison.

In support of his contentions, Kedari cited a judgement delivered in Mahendra Varsale's case.

In this judgement, the high court directed the state to take action against concerned officials from the home department responsible for the early release of another convict, Francis Albert Rocha, before completion of sentence. The court had also sought to know if there were any policy guidelines for action to be taken in case a file goes missing from Mantralaya. Accordingly, the General Administration Department initiated the process.