Allahabad High Court Orders Forensic Examination of Disputed Signatures in Management Review Case Today

The High Court of Judicature at Allahabad has taken a firm stance against potential procedural malpractice, directing a forensic signature evaluation in an ongoing dispute concerning the management of the Nehru Vidyapeeth Inter College. Presided over by Justice Siddharth Nandan, the court’s intervention follows conflicting affidavits regarding the legitimacy of a vakalatnama filed in the proceedings.

A Deepening Management Crisis

The core issue traces back to the contested election results first reported in 2009 at Nehru Vidyapeeth Inter College. Years of litigation have followed, involving multiple petitions and impleadment applications. The current crisis centers on whether the legal documents—specifically those authorizing legal representation—were authentic or fabricated to manipulate the management control of the educational institution. The dispute, which previously saw the dismissal of earlier petitions by mutual consent, has been revived by allegations that signatures on court filings may have been manufactured.

Conflicting Accounts and Conflict of Interest

The proceedings took a dramatic turn when the applicant, Shiv Shankar Singh, claimed he had not engaged the services of the counsel whose name appeared on his vakalatnama . The advocate in question, while denying personal forgery, suggested that his clerk, Rajesh Yadav, had verified the signature. Meanwhile, counter-affidavits filed by opposing parties offered diverging timelines, further complicating the court's effort to determine the veracity of the legal representation.

Court’s Legal Reasoning

Justice Siddharth Nandan noted the gravity of the allegations, emphasizing that any act of forging signatures in court proceedings constitutes a "fraud on the court" and strikes at the very heart of the administration of justice. The court's legal scrutiny involves comparing disputed signatures against admitted samples from previous writ petitions.

Key Observations from the Court

The court’s determination relies on maintaining the integrity of the judicial process:

  • "Considering the affidavits which have been filed by the parties, the averments made in the affidavit filed along with the review application, are to be dealt with and it is to be whether it amounts to fraud on the court and it is to be treated as one affecting administration of justice ."
  • "This Court is unable to accept that Shri R.C. Dwivedi, Advocate , would manufacture the vakalatnama . Though he has accepted false verification of the signature of Shri Shiv Shankar Singh (Yadav), on the vakalatnama , by his clerk."
  • "The signature of Shri R.C. Dwivedi, Advocate ... by way of verification on the vakalatnama , filed in the caveat application and on the caveat application itself, is to be examined by the signature expert."

Decision and Outlook

The High Court has ordered the Registrar (Judicial) to facilitate a forensic analysis by a signature expert, with reports expected within two weeks. The disputed vakalatnamas remain in sealed covers under the custody of the Bench Secretary, ensuring the sanctity of the evidence. By prioritizing scientific verification, the institution aims to rectify potential discrepancies before proceeding to the substantive merits of the management election dispute. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on July 28, 2026.