Missing case files rock Gujarat High Court, Judge expresses concern
Updated: Feb 16th, 2025
A major scandal rocked the Gujarat High Court after revelations of missing case files, prompting serious concerns about judicial transparency and accountability.
Justice Sandeep Bhatt has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the disappearance of case files from the court and has called for urgent reforms to ensure integrity in judicial proceedings.
The controversy began when the Gujarat High Court issued an order regarding missing case files from Radhanpur Court. However, the situation escalated when it was discovered that 15 case files had gone missing from the Surat Court within just seven months, causing alarm among judicial officials.
Justice Bhatt raised serious concerns about the role of A T Ukrani, the Registrar (SCMS & ICT) at the Gujarat High Court Registry, who has been serving in the position for the past six years.
Following Justice Bhatt’s remarks, the case took an unexpected turn when Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal reassigned Justice Bhatt’s roster, transferring him to a bench alongside senior judge Justice Ilesh Vora. This move has raised eyebrows within the legal fraternity, with some reportedly speculating that it was a reaction to Justice Bhatt’s critical stance on the missing files.
Justice Bhatt noted that fraudulent attempts by the Registry in handling the missing files had hindered necessary legal action. He warned that such incidents, if publicly exposed, could severely damage the Gujarat High Court’s reputation. He also emphasised that retaining such officials in administrative positions could set a dangerous precedent for other judicial officers and High Court employees.
In response to these revelations, the High Court has taken strict measures in other cases, including filing FIRs against judicial officers accused of mishandling court records. Additionally, the court has sought reports from the Registrar General, Registrar (Judicial), and Registrar (Administration) regarding the missing files.
How did the scandal come to light?
A 71-year-old woman, Jayashree Joshi, filed a writ petition in the Gujarat High Court, complaining that her trial court records had gone missing. She had initially filed her case in Radhanpur Court in 2010. The High Court then ordered an inquiry into the missing documents, eventually recovering them and allowing the proceedings to continue.
However, in December 2024, the Gujarat High Court took serious note of the broader issue of missing files and instructed the Registry to submit a detailed report. During the hearing, the court discovered that 15 case files had disappeared from Surat Court, and the responsible officer at the time was none other than Ukrani, the current Registrar (SCMS & ICT).
While Justice Bhatt did not explicitly name him in the order, the court confirmed that Ukrani had been transferred from Surat to the High Court Registry after the scandal unfolded.
Also read :
