Karnataka High Court Allows A4 Size Paper, Printed On Both Sides For Filing

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice S Vishwajith Shetty while disposing off a petition filed by three law students--Akriti Agarwal, Bhavana M and Lakshya Purohit noted that "The Full Court by resolution passed on August 22 2019, proposed an amendment to Rule 2 of chapter XII of High Court of Karnataka Rules, 1959. The amendment provides for use of white paper of metric A4 size, instead of foolscap paper. A notification dated November 17, has been issued by the state government granting approval to the said amendment thus prayer clause A, is worked out."

As regards the alternative prayer sought in the petition seeking directions to even district and trial courts to use A-4 size paper. The court said "No such prayer in the petition. However, the Registrar General will invite the attention of the concerned committee of the High Court, to the said oral prayer made by the petitioner.

The Supreme Court has passed a circular dated March 5, directing the mandatory use of A4 size paper with double printing for all purposes. Similarly, the High courts of Calcutta, Kerala and Tripura have implemented the same.

Advocate Paras Jain had contended that because the Supreme Court of India has already implemented the usage of A4 Size Paper and printing on both sides for all purposes. For better uniformity and easy access to justice, it becomes necessary for this Court to mandate the usage of A4 Size Paper similarly in this court and in its all subordinate courts.