'Matter Engaging Attention On Administrative Side': Allahabad HC In PIL Seeking Rational Use Of Paper In UP Courts

The Allahabad High Court recently said that the issue regarding the rational use of paper in all judicial filings in all Courts/judicial forums in the State of UP is engaging the attention of the Court on the administrative size.

The bench of Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice J. J. Munir said so while dismissing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea, inter alia, urging for use of double-printed A4 paper in courts. The Court has, however, welcomed the petitioners to submit suggestions in this regard. 

It may be noted that the PIL plea was moved in 2020 by 4 Lawyers through Advocate Shashwat Anand, seeking permission for use of A4 size paper for all Judicial and Administrative purposes in the High Court, as well as all other Courts, Tribunals and District Courts in Uttar Pradesh. It had also sought permission for printing on both sides of the paper.

During the pendency of the PIL plea, the Court had, in 2021, permitted the use of A4 Size Paper in its functioning, so as to reduce the environmental cost of paper printing and to make it more economically viable for the litigants.

The Registrant General had notified the Allahabad High Court (Amendment) Rules,2021 in the exercise of its powers under Article 225 of the Constitution of India, thereby allowing the use of A4 Size Paper for all petitions, appeals, applications, etc., to be filed in the High Court.

However, permission regarding printing on both sides of the paper has not been accorded to date.

It is also worthwhile to mention that the regime of using A4 size paper with printing on both sides has been adopted and put in place in the Supreme Court of India and several other High Courts, being Kerala High Court, Karnataka High Court, Tripura High Court, Uttarakhand High Court, etc.

Case title - Saumitra Anand and others vs. High Court of Judicature at Allahabad and others [PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (PIL) No. - 1891 of 2020]

Case Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (AB) 17

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