Punjab, Aug. 22 -- The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the preservation of mobile data in a matrimonial dispute, setting aside a trial court order that had earlier rejected the husband's plea.

Justice Alok Jain directed that the call detail records (CDRs) and tower location data of the complainant (wife), her parents, and two alleged mediators from Panchayat meetings be preserved separately.

The Magistrate has been tasked with verifying the accessibility of the data and ensuring it is stored with the required certificate under Section 65-B of the Evidence Act (now Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023).

Importantly, the Court ordered that the data remain sealed and not be disclosed to either side at this stage....