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The Supreme Court connected Wednesday (June 17, 2026) took beardown objection to an allegation that its Registry had misplaced a lawsuit record relating to a plea challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order, observing that specified “inefficiency” warranted an inquiry.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice V. Mohana made the reflection aft advocator Shubhi Shivani Ahmed informed the tribunal that the record relating to an entreaty against an April 27, 2026 bid of the Punjab and Haryana High Court rejecting her client’s anticipatory bail plea had allegedly been misplaced by the administrative helping of the apex court.
“The peculiar permission petition was filed connected June 8. However, it has not been registered by the Registry to date,” she submitted. Ms. Ahmed further informed the Bench that she had written to the acrophobic Registrar seeking clarification but had received nary response.
The Chief Justice observed that the allegation could not beryllium brushed speech and would person to beryllium thoroughly examined.
“It is simply a precise superior substance if the Registry has misplaced the file. If our Registry is misplacing files successful urgent matters, bash you deliberation I volition simply nonstop the substance to beryllium listed? I indispensable bash thing more. Please springiness maine the details. I would similar to look into this inefficiency, what is the crushed down it and who is liable for it,” helium said.
The Chief Justice besides asked Ms. Ahmed to person the advocate-on-record (AoR) who had filed the petition lodge a ceremonial ailment and furnish the applicable details of the incident.
“Ask your AoR to taxable a ailment to maine today. I americium available. He oregon she whitethorn taxable it successful chambers oregon astatine my residence. Give maine the lawsuit details,” helium said.
Repeated instances
This is not the archetypal clip CJI Kant has voiced interest implicit the functioning of the Registry.
In May, helium delivered a crisp rebuke to the administrative wing, terming the behaviour of its officials “nasty” and remarking that immoderate appeared to deliberation of themselves arsenic a “super Chief Justice of India”. The remarks came aft helium questioned however Registry officials had concluded that the Bench had not issued announcement to the Enforcement Directorate and different respondents successful a substance earlier it.
In March, the Chief Justice had besides raised concerns implicit the Registry’s functioning aft a nationalist involvement litigation (PIL) was listed for proceeding much than a twelvemonth aft it was past taken up successful February 2025. He had past sought a study from the Registrar connected the delay.
The Chief Justice has connected earlier occasions indicated that “reforms” are required successful the functioning of the Registry and observed that helium would beryllium “failing successful his duty” if helium did not undertake specified reforms during his tenure.
“The Registry officials deliberation they are present for 20 years... and we are each successful the transit signifier portion they are permanent. They deliberation the Registry should relation the mode they want,” helium had remarked successful February.
The Supreme Court Registry functions nether Article 146 of the Constitution and operates nether the wide supervision of the Secretary General, who reports to the CJI. The Registry is liable for the medication of tribunal records, listing of cases, and compliance with procedural requirements. It comprises a hierarchy of officers, including registrars, further registrars, lawman registrars, and subdivision officers.
