The Orissa High Court on Thursday closed writ petitions that sought the Court's intervention in introducing A4 sized sheets, printed on both sides for court work in judicial fora across the State (PS Chandralekha v. State of Orissa).
A Bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Dr BR Sarangi observed that the Court was taking the necessary steps on the administrative side in this regard.
"This Court has been informed that the High Court, in administrative side, is already seisin on the matter and taking necessary steps," the Court observed.
Deeming it appropriate not to keep the writ petitions pending unnecessarily, the petitions were disposed.
The petitioners had sought the use of A4 sized sheets to bring uniformity in the use of paper across judicial fora in the State and to minimise wastage of paper for the protection of the environment.
If the Orissa High Court adopts A4-sized sheets for Court work, it will join a growing number of Courts who have switched to using double-sided A4 sheets for court work.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had ruled that A4-sized sheets could be used for court work.
Apart from the Supreme Court, the High Courts at Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Kerala, and Calcutta have notified the use of A4-sized sheets for filing and court work.
While Karnataka High Court is hearing a plea moved in this regard, the High Courts of Allahabad and Bombay have referred the issue to the administrative wing of the respective Courts.
A similar petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court and the Rajasthan High Court.
[Read order]