Create OTP-based System For Processing Payment Of Professional Fees To Standing Counsels, High Court Directs Delhi Govt

The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to ensure that an OTP-based verification system is created on the Online Single Window System (OSWS) portal within a period of four weeks for seamless processing of the payment of professional fees to the standing counsels.

At present, in order to apply for the payment, a standing counsel is required to download the form, fill details of the bill and then upload the signed and scanned copy on the OSWS portal.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad observed that the present process is 'cumbersome' and defeats the purpose of seamless submission of bills.

"….the State is directed to ensure that some provision of OTP based signature is made available as the present process is cumbersome and defeats the purpose of seamless submission of bills. Let the same be done within four weeks' from today," the court said in an order passed on October 6.

The order has been passed in a plea moved by Advocate Piyush Gupta seeking clearance of bills of various government counsels engaged with the Delhi Government, Centre and municipal bodies. The bills have been kept pending for long, the plea alleges. Despite various representations being made by the aggrieved counsels as well judicial orders, the concerned departments have not cleared the bill, the court has been told earlier.

Delhi Government's standing counsel, Santosh Kumar Tripathi, on October 6 apprised the court that the new portal has become operational for payment of profession fees to the standing counsels.

However, he also submitted that some provision of OTP based system should be made available in the portal for reducing the time period in sanctioning the bills.

During the hearing, the court was also apprised about an order passed on August 25, 2020 wherein the Delhi Government, Centre and municipal bodies were directed to clear the pending bills of standing counsels within a period of four weeks. It was told that the same has not been done yet.

"Let the exercise be concluded positively before the next date of hearing and the Respondents shall make all endeavour in clearing the bills which are pending till date," said the court.

The matter will now be heard on December 12.

Title: PIYUSH GUPTA v. GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI AND ORS

Click Here To Read Order