The head of the process that oversees Indian residential schools compensation claims is calling for all records of student abuse to be destroyed.

Chief Adjudicator of the independent assessment process Dan Shapiro says in a release the only way the promise of confidentiality to claimants can be honoured is by destroying these documents.

However, the head of Canada’s national archive dedicated to Indian residential schools says the documents must be preserved.

Director of the National Research Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in Manitoba Ry Moran says destroying the documents would silence the voices of 40,000 residential school survivors.

He says the national research centre would treat the documents with the utmost respect and no survivor would ever be unwillingly identified.

Both sides will present their arguments in an Ontario court July 14-16.

(with files from Canadian Press)