**Executive Summary**
This notification, issued by the High Court of Delhi on July 3, 2026, details amendments to Volume V of the Delhi High Court Rules & Orders regarding the destruction and permanent preservation of judicial records. The amendments authorize the destruction of physical records after electronic retention as per the Information Technology Act, 2000, while mandating the permanent physical preservation of specific legal documents. These rules come into force immediately from the date of publication in the Gazette.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Destruction of Records (Rule 1A)**
* Any judicial record, book, or paper may be destroyed after it has been retained in electronic form, in accordance with Section 7 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
* Retaining documents in electronic form is deemed to satisfy any legal requirement for document preservation for specific periods.
* Documents that are designated for permanent preservation must continue to be kept in physical form, regardless of their electronic availability.
**Exceptions to Electronic-Only Preservation**
The following documents must be maintained in their physical form and are exempt from electronic-only retention rules:
* Negotiable instruments (excluding cheques) as defined by the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
* Powers-of-Attorney and Trusts.
* Wills and other testamentary dispositions.
* Contracts for the sale or conveyance of immovable property or interests therein.
* Original documents including Lease Deeds, Birth/Death/Marriage certificates, Nikahnama, Family Settlements, Passports, Driving Licenses, Bank Guarantees, and Share Certificates.
**Permanent Preservation of Judicial Records (Rule 9)**
The notification specifies which "Part A" judicial records must be preserved permanently for both Civil and Criminal cases:
* **Civil Cases:** The index, court judgments, court decrees, unreturned deeds (as listed in exceptions above), one copy of printed paper books, and copies of lower court judgments/memorandums of appeal.
* **Criminal Cases:** The index, court judgments, warrants of commitment or execution (when returned), unreturned deeds, and relevant paper books or lower court judgments.
**Impact Analysis**
**High Court of Delhi and Subordinate Courts**
**Impact**
The courts are now permitted to transition to electronic record-keeping for the majority of their archives, allowing for the physical destruction of older files.
**Action Required**
Administrative departments must update their record-disposal protocols to ensure electronic backups are compliant with the IT Act before physical destruction, while maintaining a segregated physical archive for "Part A" documents.
**Litigants and Legal Practitioners**
**Impact**
Parties involved in cases involving critical original documents (such as Wills or property deeds) are assured that these specific items will remain preserved in physical form by the court.
**Action Required**
Practitioners should ensure that original documents intended for permanent preservation are correctly filed under "Part A" of the judicial record.
**Court Registry and Record Room Staff**
**Impact**
The workload shifts towards digitizing records and identifying specific documents that are legally exempt from destruction.
**Action Required**
Staff must strictly follow the updated lists in Rule 1A and Rule 9 to prevent the accidental destruction of original physical documents that require permanent preservation.
Key Entities Referenced
Delhi High Court Rules & Orders: The primary regulatory document amended to allow for the destruction of judicial records once they are converted into and retained in electronic form.
Information Technology Act, 2000: National legislation whose provisions (Section 7) are cited to legally validate the retention of documents in electronic format as a substitute for physical preservation.
Delhi High Court Act, 1966: The statutory law providing the High Court with the authority to frame and amend rules concerning its internal administrative and judicial procedures.
Destruction of Records Act, 1917: An enabling act that establishes the legal framework for the High Court to authorize the disposal of old or digitized judicial records and papers.
High Court of Delhi: The primary judicial authority and regulator issuing the notification to update record management and preservation protocols within its jurisdiction.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33002/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33002/99
भारत सर कार
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
एस.जी.-डी.एल.x-xअxG.-I0D9H0x7xx2 026-274304
SG-DL-Ex-x0xG90ID7E20xx2x6 -274304
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 21] दिल्ली, िुक्रवार, िुलाई 3, 2026/आर्ाढ 12, 1948 [रा.रा.रा.क्षे.दि. स.ं 92
No. 21] DELHI, FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2026/ASHADHA 12, 1948 [N. C. T. D. No. 92
भाग II—I
PART II—I
राष्ट्रीय रािधानी राज्य क्षत्रे दिल्ली सरकार
GOVERNMENT OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI
दिल्ली उच्च न्यायालय : नई दिल्ली
अजधसचू ना
दिल्ली, 3 िुलाई, 2026
स.ं 59/जनयम/दि.उ.न्या.— दिल्ली उच्च न्यायालय अजधजनयम, 1966 (1966 का अजधजनयम 26) की धारा 7
सहपठित अजभलेख नािकरण अजधजनयम, 1917 (1917 का 5) की धारा 3 द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए और
इस संबंध म ें इस े समर् थ बनान े वाली अन्य समस्ट्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, दिल्ली उच्च न्यायालय, राष्ट्रीय रािधानी
क्षत्रे , दिल्ली सरकार के माननीय उपराज्यपाल के पूवथ अनुमोिन स,े दिल्ली उच्च न्यायालय जनयम एवम ् आिेि, खंड-5,
अध्याय-5 के भाग सी म ें जनम्नजलजखत संिोधन सहर् थकरता ह:ै
I. जनम्नजलजखत को दिल्ली उच्च न्यायालय जनयम एवम ् आििे ,खडं -5 ,अध्याय 5 के भाग-सी के भाग -1 के मौििू ा
जनयम 1ए के स्ट्र्ान पर प्रजतस्ट्र्ाजपत दकया िाएगा:
“ I-ए इलक्ट्े रॉजनक रूप म ें रख े गए अजभलखे ों का नािकरण- इन जनयमों म ें जनधाठथ रत सरं क्षण की दकसी भी अवजध के
बावििू , कोई भी न्याजयक अजभलखे , पस्ट्ु तक या कागज़ को, सचू ना प्रौद्योजगकी अजधजनयम, 2000 की धारा 7 के अनसु ार,
इलक्ट्े रॉजनक रूप म ेंरख े िान े के बाि नष्ट दकया िा सकता ह|ै
5028 DG/2026 (1)2 DELHI GAZETTE : EXTRAORDINARY PART II—I]
स्ट्पष्टीकरण-I : सूचना प्रौद्योजगकी अजधजनयम, 2000 की धारा 7 के अनुसार, िहां दकसी जवजध म ें यह उपबंध ह ै दक
िस्ट्तावेज़ों, अजभलेखों या सूचना को दकसी जवजनर्िथष्ट अवजध के जलए प्रजतधाठरत दकया िाए, वहा ं ऐसी उपेक्षा पूण थ कर िी
समझी िाएगी यदि ऐसे िस्ट्तावेज़, अजभलेखों या सूचना को इलक्ट्े रॉजनक रूप म ेंप्रजतधाठरत दकया िाता ह।ै
बिते दक इसम ें कुछ भी जनम्नजलजखत िस्ट्तावेज़ों पर लाग ू नहीं होगा:
क्रमाकं िस्ट्तावज़े ों का जववरण
1. परक्राम्य जलखत अजधजनयम, 1881 (1881 का 26) की धारा 13 म ें पठरभाजर्त परक्राम्य जलखत
(चेक के अलावा) ।
2. मुखतारनामा (पॉवर ऑफ़ अटॉनी) अजधजनयम, 1882 (1882 का 7) की धारा 1-ए म ें पठरभाजर्त
मुखतारनामा।
3. भारतीय न्यास अजधजनयम, 1882 (1882 का 2) की धारा 3 म ें पठरभाजर्त कोई न्यास।
4. दकसी भी नाम स े ज्ञात दकसी अन्य वसीयतनामे को िाजमल करते हुए भारतीय उत्तराजधकार
अजधजनयम, 1925 (1925 का 39) की धारा 2 के खंड (एच) म ें पठरभाजर्त कोई वसीयतनामा।
5. अचल संपजत्त की जबक्री या हस्ट्तांतरण या ऐसी संपजत्त म ें दकसी भी जहत हते ु कोई संजविा।
6. पट्टा जवलेख, िन्म/मृत्य/ुजववाह प्रमाणपत्र, जनकाहनामा, पाठरवाठरक बंिोबस्ट्त/समझौता जवलेख,
पासपोटथ, ड्राइववंग लाइसेंस, बकैं गारंटी, जडमाडं ड्राफ्ट, िेयर प्रमाणपत्र, जडबेंचर (ऋणपत्र), बांड या
न्यायालय द्वारा प्रजतधाठरत (रखे) िान े के जलए जनिेजित ऐस ेअन्य िस्ट्तावेिों स े संबंजधत कोई भी मूल
िस्ट्तावेि।
बिते यह भी दक इन जनयमों के अनुसार जिन िस्ट्तावेज़ों को स्ट्र्ायी रूप स ेसंरजक्षत दकया िाना ह,ै उन्ह ेंइलेक्ट्रॉजनक रूप म ें
संरजक्षत दकए िान े के बाविूि भौजतक रूप म ेंसंरजक्षत दकया िाना िारी रहगे ा।
II. दिल्ली उच्च न्यायालय जनयम और आििे ों के खडं V के अध्याय 5 के भाग सी के भाग II(बी) के जवद्यमान जनयम 9 के
स्ट्र्ान पर जनम्नजलजखत प्रजतस्ट्र्ाजपत दकया िाएगा-:
"9. न्याजयक अजभलखे के भाग ए म ें दकन िस्ट्ताविे ों को स्ट्र्ायी रूप स े पठररजक्षत दकया िाएगा - दकसी न्याजयक अजभलेख
के भाग ए स े संबंजधत जनम्नजलजखत िस्ट्तावेिों को स्ट्र्ायी रूप स े पठररजक्षत दकया िाएगा, अर्ाथत:्
िीवानी (जसजवल) मामलों म ें
(1) अनुक्रमजणका।
(2) न्यायालय का जनणथय।
(3) न्यायालय की जडक्री।
(4) जबना लौटाए गए जवलेख, अर्ाथत: ्
(i) परक्राम्य जलखत अजधजनयम, 1881 (1881 का 26) की धारा 13 म ें पठरभाजर्त परक्राम्य जलखत) चेक स े
जभन्न(।
(ii) मुखतारनामा (पॉवर ऑफ़ अटॉनी) अजधजनयम, 1882 (1882 का 7) की धारा
1-ए म ेंपठरभाजर्त मुखतारनामा।
(iii) भारतीय न्यास अजधजनयम, 1882 (1882 का 2) की धारा 3 म ेंपठरभाजर्त कोई न्यास ।
(iv) दकसी भी नाम स े ज्ञात दकसी अन्य वसीयतनामे को िाजमल करत े हुए भारतीय उत्तराजधकार अजधजनयम,
1925 (1925 का 39) की धारा 2 के खडं ) एच (म ें पठरभाजर्त कोई वसीयतनामा।
(v) अचल संपजत्त की जबक्री या हस्ट्तांतरण या ऐसी संपजत्त म ेंदकसी भी जहत हते ु कोई संजविा।[PART II—I DELHI GAZETTE : EXTRAORDINARY 3
(vi) पट्टा जवलेख, िन्म/मृत्य/ु जववाह प्रमाणपत्र, जनकाहनामा, पाठरवाठरक बंिोबस्ट्त/समझौता जवलेख, पासपोटथ,
ड्राइववंग लाइसेंस, बैंक गारंटी, जडमांड ड्राफ्ट, िेयर प्रमाणपत्र, जडबेंचर) ऋणपत्र(, बांड या न्यायालय द्वारा
प्रजतधाठरत दकए िान े के जलए जनिेजित ऐस ेअन्य िस्ट्तावेिों स ेसंबंजधत कोई भी मूल िस्ट्तावेि।
(5) उन सभी मामलों म ें जिनमें मुदित पेपर बुक छपी हो, मदु ित पेपर बुक की एक प्रजत, तर्ा अन्य मामलों म ें जनचली
अिालतों के जनणथयों की प्रजतया ं और उच्च न्यायालय म ेंप्रस्ट्ततु अपील का ज्ञापन।
िांजडक (आपराजधक) मामलों म ें
(1) अनुक्रमजणका।
(2) न्यायालय का जनणथय।
(3) सुपिु थगी या जनष्पािन के वारंट, िब लौटाए गए हों।
(4) जबना लौटाए गए जवलेख, अर्ाथत: ्
(i) परक्राम्य जलखत अजधजनयम, 1881 (1881 का 26) की धारा 13 म ें पठरभाजर्त परक्राम्य जलखत (चेक स े
जभन्न)।
(ii) मुखतारनामा (पॉवर ऑफ़ अटॉनी) अजधजनयम, 1882 (1882 का 7) की धारा
1-ए म ेंपठरभाजर्त मुखतारनामा।
(iii) भारतीय न्यास अजधजनयम, 1882 (1882 का 2) की धारा 3 म ेंपठरभाजर्त कोई न्यास ।
(iv) दकसी भी नाम स े ज्ञात दकसी अन्य वसीयतनामे को िाजमल करत े हुए भारतीय उत्तराजधकार अजधजनयम,
1925 (1925 का 39) की धारा 2 के खडं (एच) म ें पठरभाजर्त कोई वसीयतनामा।
(v) अचल संपजत्त की जबक्री या हस्ट्तांतरण या ऐसी संपजत्त म ेंदकसी भी जहत हते ु कोई संजविा।
(vi) पट्टा जवलेख, िन्म/मृत्य/ु जववाह प्रमाणपत्र, जनकाहनामा, पाठरवाठरक बंिोबस्ट्त/समझौता जवलेख, पासपोटथ,
ड्राइववंग लाइसेंस, बैंक गारंटी, जडमांड ड्राफ्ट, िेयर प्रमाणपत्र, जडबेंचर) ऋणपत्र(, बांड या न्यायालय द्वारा
प्रजतधाठरत दकए िान े के जलए जनिेजित ऐस ेअन्य िस्ट्तावेिों स ेसंबंजधत कोई भी मूल िस्ट्तावेि।
(5) उन सभी मामलों म ें जिनमें मुदित पेपर बुक छपी हो, मदु ित पेपर बुक की एक प्रजत, तर्ा अन्य मामलों म ें जनचली
अिालतों के जनणथयों की प्रजतया ं और उच्च न्यायालय म ेंप्रस्ट्ततु अपील का ज्ञापन।"
नोटः यह संिोधन रािपत्र म ें इनके प्रकाजित होन े की जतजर् स े लाग ू होंगे।
न्यायालय के आिेिानुसार,
अरुण भारद्वाि, महाजनबंधक4 DELHI GAZETTE : EXTRAORDINARY PART II—I]
HIGH COURT OF DELHI: NEW DELHI
NOTIFICATION
Delhi, the 3rd July, 2026
No. 59/Rules/DHC.— In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 7 of the Delhi High Court
Act, 1966 (Act 26 of 1966) read with Section 3 of the Destruction of Records Act, 1917 (5 of 1917) and all
other powers enabling it in this behalf, the High Court of Delhi, with the prior approval of the Lt. Governor
of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, hereby makes the following amendments in Part
C of Chapter 5 of Volume V of Delhi High Court Rules & Orders :-
I. THE FOLLOWING SHALL BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THE EXISTING RULE 1A
OF PART I OF PART C OF CHAPTER 5 OF VOLUME V OF DELHI HIGH
COURT RULES & ORDERS :-
“1A Destruction of Records retained in electronic form – Notwithstanding any
period of preservation prescribed in these Rules, any judicial record, book or paper, may be
destroyed after being retained in electronic form, in accordance with Section 7 of the
Information Technology Act, 2000.
Explanation: According to Section 7 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, where any
law provided that documents, records or information shall be retained for any specific
period, then, that requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied if such documents,
records or information are retained in the electronic form.
Provided that nothing in this rule shall apply to the following documents:-
Sr.No. Description of documents
1. A negotiable instrument (other than a cheque) as defined in section 13 of
the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881).
2. A power-of-attorney as defined in section 1A of the Powers-of-Attorney
Act, 1882 (7 of 1882).
3. A trust as defined in section 3 of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (2 of 1882).
4. A Will as defined in clause (h) of section 2 of the Indian Succession Act,
1925 (39 of 1925) including any other testamentary disposition by whatever
name called.
5. Any contract for the sale or conveyance of immovable property or any
interest in such Property.
6. Any original document pertaining to Lease Deed, Birth/Death/Marriage
certificate, Nikahnama, Family Settlement/Compromise Deed, Passport,
Driving License, Bank Guarantee, Demand Draft, Share Certificate,
Debenture, Bond or such other documents as directed by the Court to be
retained.
Provided further that documents which are to be preserved permanently as per these rules
shall continue to be preserved in physical form notwithstanding their preservation in
electronic form.”[PART II—I DELHI GAZETTE : EXTRAORDINARY 5
II. THE FOLLOWING SHALL BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THE EXISTING RULE 9 OF
PART II(b) OF PART C OF CHAPTER 5 OF VOLUME V OF DELHI HIGH
COURT RULES & ORDERS :-
“9. What Documents in Part A of Judicial Record to be preserved permanently - The
following documents belonging to Part A of a judicial record shall be preserved
permanently, namely:
In Civil Cases
(1) The Index.
(2) The judgment of the Court.
(3) The decree of the Court.
(4) Unreturned deeds namely :
(i) A negotiable instrument (other than a cheque) as defined in section 13 of the
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881).
(ii) A power-of-attorney as defined in section 1A of the Powers-of-Attorney Act, 1882 (7
of 1882).
(iii) A trust as defined in section 3 of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 ( 2 of 1882).
(iv) A Will as defined in clause (h) of section 2 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 (39 of
1925) including any other testamentary disposition by whatever name called.
(v) Any contract for the sale or conveyance of immovable property or any interest in such
Property.
(vi) Any original document pertaining to Lease Deed, Birth/Death/Marriage certificate,
Nikahnama, Family Settlement/Compromise Deed, Passport, Driving License, Bank
Guarantee, Demand Draft, Share Certificate, Debenture, Bond or such other
documents as directed by the Court to be retained.
(5) One copy of the printed paper book in all cases in which a paper book is printed in
other cases copies of the judgments of the Courts below and the memorandum of appeal
presented in the High Court.
In Criminal Cases
(1) The Index.
(2) The judgment of the Court.
(3) Warrants of commitment or execution, when returned.
(4) Unreturned deeds namely :
(i) A negotiable instrument (other than a cheque) as defined in section 13 of the
Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881).
(ii) A power-of-attorney as defined in section 1A of the Powers-of-Attorney Act, 1882 (7
of 1882).
(iii) A trust as defined in section 3 of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 ( 2 of 1882).6 DELHI GAZETTE : EXTRAORDINARY PART II—I]
(iv) A Will as defined in clause (h) of section 2 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 (39 of
1925) including any other testamentary disposition by whatever name called.
(v) Any contract for the sale or conveyance of immovable property or any interest in such
Property.
(vi) Any original document pertaining to Lease Deed, Birth/Death/Marriage certificate,
Nikahnama, Family Settlement/Compromise Deed, Passport, Driving License, Bank
Guarantee, Demand Draft, Share Certificate, Debenture, Bond or such other
documents as directed by the Court to be retained.
(5) One copy of the printed paper book in all cases in which a paper book is printed in
other cases copies of the judgments of the Courts below and the memorandum of appeal
presented in the High Court.”
NOTE: THESE AMENDMENTS SHALL COME INTO FORCE FROM THE DATE OF
THEIR PUBLICATION IN THE GAZETTE.
By Order of the Court,
ARUN BHARDWAJ, Registrar General
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.