Rajasthan HC issues notice in plea seeking use of A4 sized, double side printed sheets for court work [Read Order]

The Rajasthan High Court has issued notice in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition seeking the use of A4 sized paper sheets for court work. ( Akriti Agarwal v. Registrar General, Rajasthan High Court )

. A Division Bench of Justices Sandeep Mehta and Devendra Kachhawaha today heard a petition filed by Akriti Agarwal and Lakshya Purohit of Whistle for Public Interest (WHIP), a collective of law students and young lawyers.

. The Court has directed the Registrar-General of the Rajasthan High Court to respond to the petition.

. In their petition, filed through Advocate Sumit Singhal, the petitioners challenge the use of legal sized or A3 sheets contending that it heightens inequity and inaccessibility of courts.

. In this regard, the petitioners challenge the Rajasthan High Court Rules, 1952 mandating the use of legal-sized sheets printed only on one side.

. With many High Courts and the lower court adopting A4 sized sheets for court work, the continued use of A3-sized sheets create a lack of uniformity between courts in the country, the petitioners point out.

. In their petition, the petitioners draw attention to the Supreme Court's directive for the use of A4-sized sheets for court work, while urging the Rajasthan High Court to consider doing the same.

. "However, in some high courts, district courts and quasi-judicial bodies, an indefinite combination of both Legal Size Paper and A4 Size Paper are being used. This disorganized and unreasonable practice of using different papers at different places is not just creating hindrance for people in accessing justice both inside and outside the courts, but it also renders the entire legal system non-uniform and arbitrary." the petitioners state . Terming the differential filing requirements in courts as " invidious discrimination" the petitioners go on to highlight why a shift to A4 sized sheets is necessary.

. The petition highlights that the use of A4 sized sheets was necessary to ensure access to justice and the protection of the environment.

. Since almost all paperwork outside courts is done on A4 sized sheets, not permitting its use for court work would lead to raising barriers to justice, besides being a shackle of unjustified formality, the petitioners aver.

. "Essentially, courts are for people, people are not for courts." the petitioners . The fact that 'legal-sized' sheets of paper are traded and made available for purchase only in select outlets points to the inherent unreasonableness and arbitrariness in imposing its use, it is stated. For these reasons, the plea challenges the practice of using A3-sized sheets in court as violative of Article 14 and Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

. Stating that their requests on the Court's administrative side failed to elicit a response to the concerns raised, the petitioners have now sought the Court's aid in implementing the use of A4 sized sheets in courts across the State.

. If the Rajasthan 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.

. 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 by the same petitioners as the ones in the case before the Rajasthan High Court.

. The petitioners made representations in the Supreme Court, as well as before the Calcutta, Tripura and Kerala High Courts, seeking a shift to A4 sized sheets for court work.

. Read the Order:

Rajasthan HC issues notice in plea seeking use of A4 sized, double side printed sheets for court work [Read Order]

Lydia Suzanne Thomas

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