Supreme Court Flags Practical Difficulties In Handling Case Files, Calls For SOP By Registry To Properly Maintain SLP Paper Books

The issues include orders not being attached to paper books, counter-affidavits attached to SLP paper books without clear indication, failure to send convenience compilations to judges, improper exhibition of interlocutory applications (IA) numbers, and other ancillary issues.

After outlining the challenges, Justices J.K Maheshwari and Sanjay Karol instructed the Secretary-General and the Registry Officers, in particular, the Registrar (Judicial), to establish a standard operating procedure. The Registry was to order to effectively maintain the SLP paper books and “eradicate” these issues. The Court said that the same shall be notified after seeking appropriate orders from the Chief Justice of India.

"We hope and trust, for the efficient functioning of the Court, due compliance shall be made as expeditiously as possible"., the Court added.

Issues Highlighted By The Court

1. The orders passed in the proceedings are not attached to the paper books;

2. In service matters, counsels for the petitioner are not attaching the relevant Rules with appendix in the SLP paper books or even not referring the same in pleadings. Some time, those Rules are being filed in piecemeal with applications or with additional documents, due to which matters are required to be postponed, which causes extra financial burden on the parties and delay in adjudication.

3. Counter ­affidavits are sometime attached to the main SLP paper book without flagging and inviting attention and sometime as separate paper book, which require unnecessary search and to waste time by Judges;

4. On directions and after filing the convenience compilation, it is not sent to the residential offices of the Judges either in hard copy or by way of emailing and even during hearing.

5. The I.A. number has not been properly exhibited on its face. The applications are not attached date­ wise with the paper books, which causes inconvenience to the Judges.

6. Other ancillary issues are also coming in various paper books, which is causing difficultly in day to day Court functioning.

Case Title: ANJUMOL V.A. vs. KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION., Diary No.- 18441 - 2021

Citation : 2024 LiveLaw (SC) 332

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