Reviewed case brief

Harpal Singh v Devinder Singh

(1997) 6 SCC 660

## Summary

impounding-of-documentsreturn-of-documentsorder-13-cpcevidentiary-relevance
Court
Supreme Court of India
Year
1997
Subjects
Civil Procedure Code and Law of Limitation
Reviewed
2026-07-22

Rule established

A court has the power under the relevant provisions of the CPC to permit the impounding, return, or inspection of documents produced at trial, and must exercise this power having regard to the genuine evidentiary needs of the parties, the authenticity of the documents, and the interests of justice, rather than mechanically returning or impounding documents without due consideration of their continued relevance to the proceedings.

Facts

    Issues

      Held

        Ratio decidendi

        How to use it in an exam

        Editorial source

        (1997) 6 SCC 660; standard casebook authority on the court's discretion regarding impounding and return of documents, cross-verify citation before exam use

        Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.