Destruction of Record Act, 1917

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THE DESTRUCTION OF RECORDS ACT 1917 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
1.  Short title 
2.  [Definitions.]  
3.  Power to certain authorities to make rules for disposal of documents 
4.  Validation of former rules for disposal of documents 
5.  Saving of certain documents 
6.  [Repeals.]  
THE SCHEDULE 

 
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THE DESTRUCTION OF RECORDS ACT 1917 
1ACT NO. V OF 1917 
[28th February, 1917] 
An Act to consolidate and amend the law providing for the destruction or other disposal of certain 
documents in the possession or custody of Courts and Revenue and other public officers. 
 WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the law providing for the destruction or 
other disposal of certain documents in the possession or custody of Courts and Revenue and other 
public officers, It is hereby enacted as follows :___ 
 1. Short title. This Act may be called the Destruction of Records Act, 1917. 
 2. [Definitions] Rep. by the A.O., 1937. 
 3. Power to certain authorities to make rules for disposal of documents.___ (1) The 
authorities hereinafter specified may, from time to time, make rules2 for the disposal, by destruction 
or otherwise, of such documents as are, in the opinion of the authority making the rules, not of 
sufficient public value to justify their preservation. 
 (2) The authorities shall be___ 
(a)  in the case of documents in the possession or custody of a High Court or of the 
Courts of Civil or Criminal jurisdiction subordinate thereto,___ the High Court; 
(b)  in the case of documents in the possession or custody of Revenue Courts and 
officers,-the Chief Controlling Revenue-authority3 ; and 
(c)  in the case of documents in the possession or custody of any other public 
officer,___ 
4[(i)  if the documents relate to purposes of a Province, the Provincial 
Government or any officer specially authorised in that behalf by that 
Government ; 
(ii)  in any other case, the 5[Federal Government] or an officer specially 
authorised in that behalf by that Government.] 
 6[(3) Rules made under this section by any High Court or by a Chief Controlling 
Revenue-authority3 or by an officer specially authorised in that behalf by any Provincial Government 
shall be subject to the previous approval of the Provincial Government; and rules made by an officer 
specially authorised in that behalf by the 5[Federal Government] shal l be subject to the previous 
approval of the 5[Federal Government]]. 
 
1For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gazette of India, 1917, Pt. V, p. 2 ; and for Proceedings in Council, see Ibid, 1917, Pt. VI, pp. 17 and 292. 
2For the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal (Destruction of Record Rules, 1960 see Gazette of Pakistan 1960,  Pt. I, pp. 330-331. 
3For definition of Chief Controlling Revenue-authority, formerly included in s. 2, see now the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897), s. 3 (9a). 
4Subs by A. O., 1937, for the L. G ., or any officer specially authorized in that behalf by the L.G.”,. 
5Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art, 2 and Table for “Central Government”. 
6Subs. ibid., for the original sub-section (3) 
 
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 4. Validation of former rules for disposal of documents. All rules and orders directing or 
authorising the destruction or other disposal of documents in the possession or custody of any public 
officer, heretofore made by a 1[Provincial Government], or with the approval of the 1[Provincial 
Government] by any authority not empowered to make such rules under the Destruction of Records 
Act, 1879 (III of 1879) shall be deemed to have had the force of law from the date on which they 
were made, and all such rules and orders now in force shall continue to have the force of law until 
they are superseded by rules made under this Act. 
 5. Saving of certain documents. Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to authorise the 
destruction of any document which, under the provisions of any law for the time being in force, is to 
be kept and maintained. 
 6. [Repeals.] : [Rep. by the Repealing Act, 1927 (XII of 1927)]. 
THE SCHEDULE [Repeal of Enactments.] Rep. by the Repealing Act, 1927 (Xll of 1927), s. 2 and 
Schedule. 
 
 
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Date: 11-09-2024 
1Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”.