Catalogue description Indian Navy: Naval Records of Service

These files are classified under the Public Records Act as 'documents about individuals, containing information which if disclosed could cause either substantial distress or endangerment from a third party, to persons affected by the disclosure, or their descendants'. As such they are held under the terms of a statutory instrument, authorised by the Lord Chancellor, under 'extended closure' of between 75 to 100 years. The reason for this closure is to protect the subject of the file whilst they are still living. In order to safeguard confidential information on the subjects of the files, who may still be living, the closure period for these files has been set at 75 years from the date of entry of the serviceman/woman into the service. As these files only begin in 1937, they will only start to be available to the general public from 1 January 2013. They will then be made available on an annual basis. For files of persons who joined the service less than 75 years ago, access can only be granted to:

The subject of the file (still living).

The (official, i.e. legal) next of kin of the subject, if the subject is dead.

Other persons, who have the signed, written permission of either the subject, or if the subject is dead, then from the official next of kin.