In a recent order of the High Court of Rajasthan, Justice Dinesh Mehta has issued a directive to conduct a thorough inquiry into an alleged case of forged signatures on a joint writ petition. The petition, filed by 101 petitioners seeking annual grade increment after retirement, has raised significant concerns regarding the authenticity of the signatures attached to the Vakalatnama.

The order, sheds light on a perplexing scenario where numerous petitioners, hailing from various districts of Rajasthan such as Nagaur, Alwar, Jaipur, Banswara, and even extending to states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, have purportedly converged under one legal representation. 

The petitioners, having served different departments of the state, have seemingly come together under one banner to seek redressal post-retirement.

However, upon scrutinizing the petition and accompanying documents, the court discovered glaring discrepancies. 

Firstly, the petition lacked clarity regarding the specifics of each petitioner's service history, making it challenging to discern their individual claims. Secondly, doubts arose regarding the authenticity of the signatures on the Vakalatnama, with many appearing to be inscribed in a suspiciously uniform manner, suggestive of possible forgery.

In light of these concerns, the court has taken a decisive step by directing the Registrar (Judicial) to launch an immediate inquiry into the matter. The Registrar has been tasked with summoning all the petitioners to verify whether the signatures on the Vakalatnama were indeed affixed by the petitioners themselves. Furthermore, petitioners have been instructed to appear before the Registrar with proof of their identities on April 15, 2024, during court hours.

Additionally, the court has ordered the Registrar to obtain fresh signatures from all petitioners on a separate sheet, ensuring that they are not influenced by the existing signatures on the Vakalatnama. This measure aims to establish a prima facie understanding of the situation and ascertain the veracity of the claims made in the petition.

Interestingly, amidst these developments, Mr. Surendra Singh Choudhary, the learned counsel representing the petitioners, sought permission to withdraw the writ petition. However, the court firmly declined this request, highlighting a concerning trend where joint petitions are being filed with a single Vakalatnama, potentially accompanied by forged signatures.

The case has been scheduled for further proceedings on April 23, 2024, wherein the court anticipates receiving the inquiry report from the Registrar, shedding light on the authenticity of the signatures and the validity of the petition.

Case: Ranjeet Singh Chouhan and ors. vs. The State of Rajasthan and ors,

S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 4870/2024.

Click here to read/download order.