(a)      The clerk of a circuit court or the chief clerk of the District Court, under rules and regulations promulgated by the Court of Appeals, may authorize the destruction of pleadings, papers, and files in his custody which, because of their character, serve no useful purpose in being retained.

      (b)      Before any pleadings, papers, or files are destroyed, the proposed destruction shall be approved in writing by the judge exercising the functions of administrative judge in the county in the case of circuit court records or the Chief Judge of the District Court in the case of District Court records, and the records shall be disposed of in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 6, Part V of the State Government Article.