E-Filing Compulsory In Certain Categories: SC

Key Takeaways

• Physical filing of cases by the government will not be allowed after 1 January 2022.
• The High Courts will be responsible for issuing any circulars or notifications regarding the same.
• The judiciary has been attempting to digitize courts, and streamline its system. The aim is to reduce the environmental impact of using paper.

Introduction

• The Chairman of the E-Committee of the Supreme Court has sent a letter to all High Courts directing them to ensure all cases filed by the government are done only through e-filing.
• Physical filing of cases by the government will not be allowed after 1 January 2022. Until now parties had the option of filing physical copies of the documents along with e-copies.
• For other litigants, in some categories E-filing will be compulsory, to be determined by what the High Court deems fit.
• E-filing will be required for petitions, appeals, and revisions against the judgments and orders of the subordinate courts. For filing a revision petition or appeal, the record from the trial court can be linked with the revision court.
• Additionally, suits for recovery of money complaints under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, applications for maintenance, petitions for divorce by mutual consent, bail applications may also be considered for e-filing.
• The High Courts will be responsible for issuing any circulars or notifications regarding the same.

Reason for E-filing

• The judiciary has been attempting to digitize courts, and streamline its system. The aim is to reduce the environmental impact of using paper.
• The system will also make locating specific documents easier.

Questions

• Why is e-filing being made compulsory?
• Who has to make the guidelines regarding the e-filing of cases?

Share your answers in the comments section below.