Reviewed case brief
Harpal Singh v Devinder Singh
(1997) 6 SCC 660
## Summary
- 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.