New E-filing rules for Kerala courts temporary, only for COVID period; won't be implemented in lower courts

The recently introduced E-filing Rules will be in force for filing cases in Kerala High Court as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic period, the Kerala High Court decided after a meeting with the Bar Council of Kerala. .This decision was taken on Tuesday after controversy erupted over the Rules having been implemented hastily and without due consultation with the Bar. .On Monday, the Bar Council of India (BCI) had also addressed a letter to the High Court's Chief Justice, S Manikumar urging that the new Electronic Filing Rules for Courts (Kerala), 2021 ("E-Filing Rules") be reconsidered, in light of the practical difficulties expressed by the Bar Council of Kerala (BCK)..Kerala High Court Advocates Association decides to boycott E-filing; BCI requests Kerala High Court to reconsider new E-filing Rules.Following this development, a meeting was held on the issue today, following which it was clarified:.1. E-filing Rules will be implemented by Kerala High Court only temporarily during the COVID-19 period. After the pandemic period and commencement of regular sittings, the system prevalent before the pandemic will resume. Even during the current period when the temporary e-filing system would be in force, physical filing will also be allowed. 2. The E-filing system will not be implemented in the lower courts for the time being. The system under the civil rules of practice will continue. E-filing will be considered only after providing internet, electricity, and other requirements and providing necessary training for implementing the E-filing rules.3. During the lockdown period, only two division benches and three single benches will function at the High Court. 4. There will not be regular sittings in the lower courts during this time. Urgent matters alone will be taken up through online mode. 5. Future decisions will be taken only after all aspects are discussed with the Kerala Bar Council and advocates. .The meeting held this morning was attended by Kerala High Court Chief Justice Manikumar, Justices CT Ravikumar, Vinod Chandran, AK Jayasankaran Nambiar, Haripal and Raja Vijayaraghavan, Advocate General CP Sudhakara Prasad, Additional Solicitor General P Vijayakumar and the Chairman of the Bar Council of Kerala, advocate Joseph John. .Prior to this, various meetings on the issue were also held with the Kerala High Court Advocates' Association (KHCAA), which had also registered strong opposition to the new E-filing rules. .Bar Council of Kerala, Kerala High Court Advocates Association oppose Electronic Filing Rules; to refrain from e-filing tomorrow.Yesterday, the KHCAA had also decided to go ahead with the boycott of the new E-filing system and programmes associated with it.