Uploading Of Empaneled Lawyers' Fee Bills On 'Online Single Window System' Must Be Made Smooth, Without Glitches: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has observed that uploading of fee bills of government empaneled lawyers on the Online Single Window System (OSWS) portal set up by the Delhi Government should be made smooth and without any glitches.

“The said system ought to become a model for clearance of fee bills of the lawyers so that substantial paper work of the government officials in various departments may be avoided. In respect of fee bills, the process of uploading of bills and the Court orders displaying the appearance or any other document should be made smooth and without any glitches. This would also enable the verification of the bills in a faster manner,” Justice Prathiba M Singh said.

This was after the Delhi Government's counsel informed court that the OSWS portal has started functioning and the uploading of bills has become quite seamless.

The court asked all departments of the Delhi Government to ensure that the OSWS system works efficiently. It said that the concerned officials ought to be sensitised that once bills are submitted on the portal, they are processed strictly in accordance with the process prescribed in the Delhi Government's SOP.

“Further, the timelines prescribed in the SOP ought to be adhered to strictly. API integration, which is stated to be pending, ought to be carried out expeditiously, in any case within a period of three months,” the court said.

Justice Singh also directed the Delhi Government its law and other departments to strictly follow their applicable SOPs in respect of uploading of electronic bills, timelines for clearing of bills so that the lawyers are not inconvenienced.

“The NIC is also directed to continue to provide requisite support in running the OSWS portal so that any glitches and technical issues are fixed expeditiously and without any delay,” it said.

The court also recorded its appreciation for the cooperation given by counsels for the Delhi Government and officials of NIC and government departments in the operationalisation of the portal.

The court disposed of a plea moved by a Delhi Government's panel counsel, Anjana Gosain. It was her case that she had raised various memos for her professional services which were outstanding and not being cleared by the government.

Title: ANJANA GOSAIN v. GOVERNMENT OF NCT AND ANR.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 871

Click here to read order