Section 252 in Civil Court Rules of the High Court of Judicature at Patna
252.
When any public document (not being the record of a suit or of a judicial proceeding) or a document in public custody has been produced in Court in compliance with a summons the Court shall after the document has been inspected or put in evidence, as the case may be, cause it to be returned with the least possible delay to the officer from whose custody it has been produced after the preparation of such copies as the Court may require under Order XIII, Rule 5, clause (2) Civil Procedure Code, unless its detention is considered to be necessary till the delivery of the judgment.Note. - While returning any public document, the Court shall make an endorsement therein near about the exhibit mark and by a separate order in the order-sheet of the case direct that it shall not be destroyed without previous permission of the Court and the Court shall not accord such permission until the trial is concluded, or in case where appeal lies until sufficient time has elapsed for appeal, or, if an appeal is preferred, until the determination thereof. The Court shall forward to the department concerned a copy of the order and before according permission for destruction, shall satisfy itself that no appeal is pending. The term "appeal" includes a second appeal and an appeal to the Supreme Court.
