Maharashtra makes daily case record mandatory for all quasi-judicial authorities

The Maharashtra government has made it mandatory for all quasi-judicial and appellate authorities in the state to maintain a roznama, a record of daily proceedings. The General Administration Department issued a circular on 3 November laying down a uniform procedure for keeping it.

For people awaiting a decision in government tribunals and quasi-judicial authorities, every hearing matters. But without a formal record, it has often been hard to prove what happened at a hearing, which documents were submitted or why a matter was adjourned.

The circular follows observations by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court. In its 7 October order in Writ Petition No. 4512 of 2026, the court took up a case that had been pending for about 14 years and had no official roznama of its proceedings.

Under the new framework, every quasi-judicial and appellate authority must maintain a separate roznama for each case. Each matter will get a separate registration number in both physical and electronic records so that it can be traced easily. The record of hearings will be kept in order of date, and contact details of the parties will also be taken.

The roznama must give a clear, factual account of each hearing. The mandatory entries are: a summary of what happened at the hearing and the names of the parties and representatives present; a list of all files and records submitted; the bench's directions, orders and interim orders; the name of the presiding officer and the case number; and the dates of the previous and next hearings, along with the signatures of those present. The reason for any absence or missing signature must be clearly recorded. The record will also carry the dated certification of the competent officer, and any change made to it must be traceable.

Authorities must also record the correct postal address, email and phone number at the time of filing. Verifiable logs of electronic notices sent must be preserved.

The circular provides for regular review and timely disposal of pending cases. A uniform time limit cannot be imposed on all quasi-judicial proceedings. Administrative secretaries will monitor audits and disciplinary action.

Advocate Jamshed Mistry, whom the Bombay High Court has appointed amicus curiae in several important cases, welcomed the decision. He said, "This circular is very important and useful for keeping complete transparency in the records of the administration and tribunals, and it will help the parties a great deal. Records and details of the daily proceedings can be easily obtained through legal transcription." Mistry also said it would allow parties to scrutinise proceedings and seek accountability for delays.

Prashant More, a Navi Mumbai resident, said, "In my case at MahaRERA, I am getting date after date without any relief. This roznama circular is welcome, but the real test is whether it is strictly followed on the ground."

Abhishek Vispute, a Dombivli resident, said, "I have been waiting for justice since 2014, when the developer cheated us in our project in Ambernath. We had to go to MahaRERA, which issued an execution order, but it has not been acted on for the past five years. I have also been blacklisted in CIBIL for missing home loan instalments. Government circulars are fine, but what is their use unless the common man gets justice?"