Closed matters still hold client Aadhaar, PAN, and phone numbers. That's a problem.
Think about this. Your law firm has hundreds of old case folders. Each one has client Aadhaar copies, PAN cards, salary slips, and phone numbers. Your intern can open all of them. Your WhatsApp group has case documents shared freely. Under India's new data protection law, this is not okay. If something leaks, your firm is responsible.
Say your firm closed a divorce case two years ago. That folder has the client's Aadhaar, bank details, and personal messages. It is still sitting in a shared drive. Any staff member can open it. This is a real risk. Under DPDPA, you must not keep people's information longer than needed. Separate your folders by case. Lock old ones. Check who has access. Stop sharing case documents on WhatsApp groups with everyone.
Lock all closed case folders — only senior staff can open them.
Make a list of every outside tool used to share client documents.
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“A closed matter is not a free parking lot for old personal data.”
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