The e-filing system is an online platform designed to allow individuals electronic submission of documents in courts. This system has enables lawyers, litigants, and other relevant parties to file various legal documents, such as complaints, petitions, written statements, & applications online without the need for in-person court visits. Users can upload required documents to a designated e-filing portal through any internet-enabled computer or device. The platform is bilingual (English & local language) to reach a greater audience.
OBJECT:
The main objective for implementing e-filing procedure in the judicial system is to streamline and modernize the process of electronically submitting legal documents. The key objectives are:
- Promotion of Paperless filing: E-filing reduces our reliance on paper documents, and contributes to an environmental sustainability.
- Enhanced Accessibility: Advocates and litigants are able to file cases and submit documents at any hour of the day, from any location, completely eliminating the need to physically visit the court to file the documents.
- Increased Efficiency: With its easy accessibility, the system design has enabled saving time and money significantly in comparison to the traditional filing methods.
- Enhanced Accuracy: E-filing has resulted in minimization of errors through automated data entry and built-in error-checking features, leading to higher accuracy in submissions.
- Quick Processing: Electronic submissions have also facilitated faster processing than paper filings, that permits quicker case management and resolution.
FEATURES OF E-FILING:
- Readymade Templates
- Online Submission of Vakalatnama
- e-signing (documents signed by multiple parties can be uploaded)
- Online Payment
- Online Video Recording of Oath
- Application Filing (can file several applications for different cases simultaneously)
- Portfolio Management
- My Partners (allows adding colleagues/juniors/ etc as partners)
- Dashboard (showcases status of all completed/pending cases)
A step-by-step guideline for e-filing in Delhi High Court is listed below:
1. USER REGISTRATION
i. Visit the Portal: Go to the Delhi High Court e-filing portal (https://dhcefiling.nic.in/eFiling/)
ii. Select Registration: Click on "Register as Advocate" or "Register as Party In-person".
iii. Fill in Details:
- Enter personal and professional information.
- Provide a valid email address for notifications.
- Enter the Bar Council registration number (for advocates) or law firm details (if applicable).
- Confirm Information:
- Click "Register".
- A confirmation alert will pop up; verify the information.
- Click "OK" to proceed or "Cancel" to correct details.
iv. Receive Login Credentials:
- Receive a login ID and password (to be changed by the user).
- An SMS will confirm the acceptance or rejection of the registration.
2. Login to the e-Filing System
i. Enter Credentials: Use the provided login ID and password to log in.
ii. Dashboard Overview:
- View the status of cases filed under different categories (Main, Misc, Document, Draft).
- Main Menu Items:
- e-Filing:
- Main Case Filing
- Application Filing
- Document Filing
- Vakalatnama Filing
- Caveat Filing
- Process Fee
3. Main Case Filing
i. Memo of Parties:
- Click on "e-Filing" link.
- Fill in Petitioner/Plaintiff details by uploading a document or manually.
- Click "ADD" to add more Petitioners/Plaintiffs or Respondents.
- Filing Details:
- After completing the Memo of Parties, click "Next".
- Enter details such as case type, category, and government involvement.
- Fill in additional information (e.g., similar matters, petitions against the same award, impugned order details).
ii. Court Fee Payment:
- Enter the 16-digit unique e-Court Fee ID.
- Click "Add" to include the e-Court Fee ID.
- Add multiple e-Court Fee IDs if necessary.
- Upload Documents:
- Upload the required documents.
- A screen will display the diary number for the filed case.
- An email will be sent to the registered email ID indicating that the file is under scrutiny.
4. Tracking Case Status
i. Main Case Inbox:
- Track the status of filed cases under different categories (Main, Misc, etc.).
- Scrutiny Stage:
- Cases in the scrutiny stage are listed under the "SCRUTINY" tab.
ii. Defective Stage:
- Cases in the defective stage are listed under the "DEFECTIVE" tab.
- Click on the "DEFECTIVE" link to view and correct defects.
- Re-file defective cases as needed.
TO BE NOTED:
- The original text material, documents, notice of motion, memorandum of parties, main petition or appeal, as the case may be, and interlocutory applications etc. will be prepared electronically using MS Word or Open Office software. The formatting style of the text will be as under:
Paper size: A-4
Top: 1.5”
Bottom: 1.5”
Left: 1.75”
Justification: Full
Font: Times New Roman
Font size: 14
Line spacing: 1.5
- The documents should be converted into Portable Document Format (PDF) using any PDF converter or in-built PDF conversion plug-in provided in the software. 3.3 Where the document is not a text document and has to be enclosed with the petition, appeal or application or other pleadings, the document should be scanned using an image resolution of 300 dpi (dot per inch) and saved as a PDF document.
- The maximum permissible size of the file that can be uploaded at the time of e-filing is MB.
- The text documents prepared in MS Word/Open Office as well as scanned documents should be merged as a single PDF file and bookmarked.
- The merged documents should be uploaded at the time of e-filing by using the facility provided at the e-filing centre in the High Court Lawyers’ Chambers Block-I.
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