Historic court archives face decay

Overcrowding, neglect & blocked ventilation threaten priceless docs at district courts

RAWALPINDI:

The record room of the old District Courts in Rawalpindi, constructed in 1860—some 166 years ago—remains structurally sound, yet is facing severe challenges due to overcrowding and a chronic lack of space. No upgrading or preservation work has been carried out for over a century to safeguard the invaluable records stored there.

Built during the British colonial era from wood, nails and iron, the open, cupboard-style record room remains largely unchanged to this day. Remarkably, despite the passage of more than one and a half centuries, not a single nail has rusted, no wood has splintered, and none of the iron grills has broken. Its imposing strength endures and, according to experts, it could remain intact for another hundred years.

The facility houses nearly 200 years of land ownership records for the Rawalpindi district, as well as court records up to 2015. Staff members estimate that between 11 and 11.5 million files of varying sizes are stored here.

The original filing system has collapsed, and records are tied in white cloth bundles. The space, originally around 10 marlas, has effectively shrunk to five or six marlas due to overcrowding. For several years, even basic cloth for wrapping files has not been provided.

Previously, the record room was surrounded by large, well-ventilated iron-mesh windows, allowing airflow that protected documents from termites and decay. However, the construction of multi-storey lawyers' chambers on all sides has blocked ventilation.

As a result, the room is now choked with dust, old records have been infested by insects and termites, and a foul stench permeates the area. Over the past 30 years, seven employees have reportedly contracted tuberculosis and respiratory illnesses. Staffing levels are inadequate, and there is no proper cleaning system in place.

Ventilation and lighting systems have collapsed entirely. Piles of files lie in disarray, and retrieving old records can take up to a month. Due to limited space and insufficient staff, files cannot be properly handled or stored in an organised manner. More than half of the records have already been damaged, and documents relating to land worth millions of rupees are being lost.

The record room has neither adequate lighting nor CCTV cameras, nor any formal security arrangements. This leaves it vulnerable to tampering by influential individuals for personal gain, or even deliberate arson, potentially causing irreparable losses.