(a)The Magistrate shall provide a secure room in every Court to serve as a malkhana in which all property sent to Court and taker, charge of by the Court Officer shall be kept. In the room shall be a strong box for cash, ornaments, small arms, ammunition, etc.(b)Both the malkhana and strong box should have good locks, preferably of the tumbler type the keys of which cannot be locally made. The keys of the room and of the strong box shall be numbered and kept by the Court officer who shall be responsible for all the property in the malkhana and shall see that no one removes any property or tampers with exhibits in cases. Every article shall be neatly labelled to tally with the number in the register. No private property of officers may be kept in the malkhana. A duplicate key of each lock shall be in the custody of the Superintendent of Police and the number shall be noted in a register.(c)Before going out on tour the Court officer shall make over to the next senior officer not below the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector -(1)the key of the malkhana, and(2)all exhibits kept in the strong box that might possibly be required during his absence. He should obtain a detailed receipt for these and note the fact in the daily undertrial case report. The key of the strong box shall be made over in a sealed cover to the Second Magistrate.The exhibits which are handed over by the Court officer, together with valuables or documents that may be received in the Court during his absence, shall be kept in a second strong, box in the malkhana. The Court officer shall, on return from tour, examine the contents of the second strong box and give a receipt in exchange, noting the fact in his daily report.
