To Minimize Paper Consumption, SC Filings To Be In A4 Size Paper With Both Side Printing From April 1 [Read Circular]

The Supreme Court has issued circular stating that filings in the judicial side should be in A4 size paper with both-sides printing from April 1 onwards.

This has been done with the view to "bring uniformity about use of paper and printing thereon and to minimize the consumption of paper and consequently to save the environment".

The circular issued on March 5 stated :

"With a view to bring uniformity about use of paper & printing thereon and to minimize consumption of paper & consequently to save the environment, superior quality A4 size paper (29.7 cm x 21 cm) having not less than 75 GSM with printing on both sides of the paper with Font - Times New Roman, Font size 14, in one and half line spacing (for quotations and indents - font size 12 in single line spacing), with margin of 4 cm on left & right and 2 cm on top & bottom, shall be used in the pleadings, petitions, affidavits or other documents to be filed in this Court"; 

It is also stated that all communications from the Court Registry to the Advocates-on-Record concerned will be send by e-mail, followed by an SMS alert. "The practice of sending the communication through hard copy shall be discontinued by the Registry", said the circular.

Miscellaneous applications, review petitions, curative petitions and contempt petitions in disposed of matters may be accepted by the Court registry in a 1+1 format - i.e. 1 set of original papers + 1 paperback. After the defects are cured, the rest of the paperbacks shall be filed.

A common index shall be placed in the first volume incase there is more that one volume in a matter. A separate index of each volume shall be placed in the respective volume (s).

Last month, the Supreme Court had approved the decision to allow use of A4 size paper with double-side printing for filing.

On January 14, the Court had issued a circular informing that such measures will be implemented on the administrative side. The circular issued on January 14 stated :

"With a view to bring uniformity about use of paper in day-to-day working on the administrative side, to minimise consumption of paper and consequently to save the Environment, Hon'ble the Chief Justice of India has been pleased to direct that henceforth, the Registry shall use A4 size paper (on both sides) for internal communications at all levels in the Registry."

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