PIL FILED BEFORE BOMBAY HIGH COURT: SEEKS A DIRECTION TO MANDATE THE USE OF A4 SIZE PAPER

Introduction :

Presently, green ledger paper is used for filing petitions and it is not necessary to have printing on both sides of the paper. A public interest litigation plea filed before Bombay High Court bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish Kulkarni by Sujay Joshi from Pune, through advocate Ajinkya Udane, seeking a direction to make the use of A4 size paper, printed on both sides with 1.5 spacing, mandatory for supporting documents and all pleadings in court.

Highlights of the PIL:

The petitioner pleaded that the Supreme Court has already put out a notification acknowledging that filings in the judicial side will be in A4 size paper with both-sides printing from April 1 onwards and it was executed to decrease the consumption of paper. The plea pointed out that to figure out problems about storage crunch and infrastructural, already the Courts had begun the scanning and digitization of records in the High Court and District Courts. The aforesaid is analyzed in the annual report 2018-2019 published by the Supreme Court of India.  Similarly, Tripura, Kerala, and Karnataka have permitted filing in A4 size paper by High courts.

The plea also sought directions to the relevant authority to make amendments in the Bombay High Court (Appellate Side) Rules, 1960 and Bombay High Court (Original Side) Rules, 1980 to enforce the use of A4 paper printed on both sides. The plea also

The PIL states, High court of Himachal Pradesh granted rules for electronic filings  ( E-Filings) in the subordinate courts as well as high courts in the state, On April 5, 2019.

The petitioner introduced that to the best of his knowledge, all before this High Court on its original side are legislated by the Bombay High Court Original Side Rules. The pleadings have to be –

1.printed with double spacing between the lines

2.on durable foolscap paper

3.with an inner margin of about three and a half centimeters wide

4.on a single side of the sheet

The petitioner said that it is also one of a direction to save our environment, reasonable usage of paper has an explicit relation with the saving of cutting trees, protection of wildlife and human life, in accord with the constitutional statute as reflected in Article 48 – A( protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forest and wildlife) and Article 51- A(g).

Conclusion :

At last, the petitioner pleased directions to the appropriate authority to make amendments in the Bombay High Court (Appellate Side) Rules, 1960 and Bombay High Court (Original Side) Rules, 1980 to implement the use of A4 paper printed on both sides. He concluded by saying that passing such orders and direction as the Honble court may deem fit in the interest of justice and equity.

Submitted by

Charishma KS

Student Reporter, INBA.