AIR 1957 TRAVANCORE-COCHIN 31 ::1956 Ker LT 736 ::ILR (1956) TravCo 1303

Travancore-cochin High Court

Hon'ble Judge(s): Kumara Pillai, Menon , JJ

Civil Rules of Practice , R.212— High Court Rules and Orders - Judgment of High Court - Its value as judicial precedent - Right of Advocate to apply for its copy. Precedents. Rule 212 of the Civil Rules of Practice Travancore-Cochin is as follows : "Application for copies of records a second time or by persons not parties to the suit or proceeding shall be allowed only by special order of the Court obtained on a duly verified petition setting forth the purpose for which the copy is required." An Advocate of the High Court made an application for the copy of a judgment in his individual capacity and not for and on behalf of anybody else. Held that the rule had no application to the High Court and that he was entitled to a copy of the judgment in pursuance of the application he had made.(Para 3 6) Judgments being public records copies of such judgments should be available as a matter of right to all persons prepared to pay the fees prescribed for the supply of such copies. Judicial decisions form an important part of our law and the authority of precedents is so potent and pervading in our Courts that any restriction on the access to those decisions cannot but affect adversely the proper administration of Justice. AIR 1931 All 364, Rel. on.(Para 4) ....