Allahabad High Court Orders Expert Verification Of Alleged Forged Signatures On Vakalatnama

The Allahabad High Court has ordered forensic examination of signatures on a disputed vakalatnama after a litigant claimed that he had neither signed the document nor authorised the advocate who had purportedly appeared on his behalf in proceedings relating to the management of Nehru Vidyapeeth Inter College, Ghazipur.

The controversy arose in a review application filed by Shiv Shankar Singh, who was arrayed as respondent no. 6 in an earlier writ petition concerning the institution. Singh claimed before the Court that he had never engaged the advocate in the proceedings and that the last time he had visited the advocate's chamber was on January 21, 2026, in connection with another case.

"Shaken" by this, Justice Siddharth Nandan had earlier directed Shiv Shankar Singh and his relative, Bhola Singh Yadav, to file personal affidavits and appear before the Court. In his affidavit, Singh stated that Bhola Singh Yadav, a retired employee of the institution, had accompanied him to the High Court on earlier occasions when the same counsel represented him. However, Singh alleged that after Bhola filed an impleadment application and a separate writ petition in 2024, he became suspicious of his conduct and severed all ties with him.

The Court, however, found inconsistencies in Singh's stand. It noted that, despite claiming to have severed relations with Bhola Singh Yadav and accusing him of colluding with rival parties, Singh had allegedly continued to engage the same counsel who was representing Bhola Singh Yadav in connected proceedings. Prima facie, the Court found Singh's explanation difficult to accept.

Bhola Singh Yadav, in his affidavit, took a contrary stand and stated that he and Shiv Shankar Singh had together visited the residence of the advocate in April 2026 and had deposited money with the advocate's clerk for filing a caveat application.

Taking note of the conflicting versions, the Court observed:

“No matter, whoever's version is correct but one thing is certain that none of the parties support the version of handing over the vakalatnama to Shri ... Advocate; and this Court is unable to accept that ... Advocate, would manufacture the vakalatnama.”

The Court further noted that the counsel had admitted that the signature on the vakalatnama had been verified by his clerk and not by him personally. The Court observed that the issue of whether the clerk was guilty of filing forged documents before the Court would be examined at a later stage.

Accordingly, the Court directed a signature expert to examine whether the signatures appearing on the vakalatnama and the caveat application were made by the same person. The expert was also directed to compare Shiv Shankar Singh's signatures on the disputed vakalatnama with his admitted signatures in another writ petition and submit a report.

The Bench Secretary was directed to preserve the relevant documents in a sealed cover, while the Registrar (Judicial) was instructed to arrange for the signature examination and obtain a report within two weeks. The matter has been listed on July 28, 2026, along with the expert's report in a sealed cover.

Case Title: Shiv Shankar Singh v. Committee of Management Nehru Vidyapeeth Inter College and another

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