Allahabad High Court Directs Probe Into Unauthorized Computer Entry In Court Order, Directs Registrar General To Conduct Inquiry

The Allahabad High Court in a case has said that it is really surprising to note that once an entry has been made in the court’s computer, how the same after passage of time is changed.

A report in A sealed cover by the J.R. (J) (Listing), High Court, Allahabad, flagged 'A' was placed in the records which was opened before the Court under the court’s direction.

A Single Bench of Justice Samit Gopal observed, “Perusal of the report goes to show that a particular ID has been used for a feeding in the computer which is not on the basis of any order passed in the matter. Subsequently it appears that after the previous order the said entry has been changed by the user of the same ID. It is really surprising to note that once an entry is made in the computer, how the same after passage of sufficient time is changed. The same appears to be with the nod of the concerned persons of N.I.C., High Court, Allahabad. The report further states that there have been four other instances done from the same ID by which matters have been marked in other Courts without any order.”

The Bench directed the Registrar General of the Court to conduct a detailed enquiry as per rules and take appropriate action against the delinquent persons.

Advocate Abhilasha Singh appeared on behalf of the applicant whole Advocates Nitinjay Pandey and Bade Lal Bind appeared on behalf of the opposite parties.

The counsel for the applicant submitted that the trial in the matter had started and the testimony of some witnesses was recorded and that she wanted to bring them on record by means of a supplementary affidavit and prayed for three weeks' time for the same. The Court perused the said report. The same was directed to be sealed before the Court itself forthwith by the concerned office.

The High Court in the above context noted, “The Registrar General shall also ensure that the persons found involved in the matter as per the report of the J.R. (J) (Listing) are kept away from having access to computer system so that further mischief is avoided. The said enquiry be concluded within four weeks positively and its report be placed before this Court in Chambers at 4:00 pm on 07.11.2023.”

The Court ordered that the enquiry shall proceed separately since the matter is a bail application and the same needs to be decided expeditiously and as such there should not be any impediment in deciding of the same even during the pendency of the said enquiry.

“The Inquiry Officer shall also inquire regarding the role of the concerned persons of N.I.C., High Court, Allahabad as the fact which appears from the enquiry report goes to show that the feeding once done has been changed without any judicial order or administrative order which cannot be permitted to be done in any manner. It is not permissible at all. This thus brings the system in N.I.C. also suspect”, said the Court.

Accordingly, the High Court issued the necessary directions.

Cause Title- Sajjan Kumar v. State of U.P.

Click here to read/download the Order