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Synopsis

On Monday, the Delhi High Court permitted the use of A4 size paper with double-sided printing/typing for all types of pleadings contained in petitions, affidavits, applications, or other documents, as well as all memorandum of appeals, orders, and judgments in the High Court and all District Courts of Delhi.

As per the practice directions issued through the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court, the same shall come into force from November 1, 2022.

The notification dated October 10, 2022, read:

"A4 size paper be used uniformly in all jurisdictions for all kinds of pleadings contained in petitions, affidavits, applications or other documents etc, and all memorandum of appeals, orders and judgments in the High Court as well as in all District Courts of Delhi. The A4 size paper to be used as above shall confirm to the following specification of paper and formatting style:-

A4 size paper (29.7 cm X 21 cm) having not less than 75 GSM with font – Times New Roman, font size 14, in 1.5 line spacing (for quotations and indents – font size 12 in single line spacing), with margin of 4 cm on left & right and 2 cm on top & bottom.

The printing/typing shall be on both sides of the paper."

“These Practice Directions shall come into force w.e.f. 01.11.2022,” the notification read.

Earlier, in April the High Court directed the Union of India and the Ministry of Law and Justice to consider prescribing the use of both sides of A4-sized paper, for all filings and pleadings across High Courts in India. 

A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla noted that though this court has directed A4-sized paper to be used for all sorts of proceedings in the High Courts and District Courts, the Petitioner suggests that both sides of the A4-sized paper be used. 

The aspect of usage of both sides of the A4-sized paper has not been examined by the court before. 

The Petitioner, in his support, cited a circular of the Supreme Court dated 05.03.2020 directing all pleadings, petitions, affidavits, or other documents filed before the court on "..superior quality A4 size paper (29.7 cm x 21 cm) having not less than 75 GSM with printing on both sides of the paper with Font - Times New Roman, Font size 14, in one and a half line spacing (for quotations and indents – font size 12 in single line spacing), with a margin of 4 cm on left & right and 2 cm on top & bottom"

The Petitioner submitted that while the Delhi High Court would have jurisdiction to prescribe the usage of both sides of A4 size paper to all District Courts in Delhi, for such a guideline to be implemented across all High Courts in India, the Ministry of Law and Justice would have jurisdiction to prescribe the same. Thus, the division bench had directed the Union of India and the Ministry of Law and Justice to consider the possibility of bringing about such guidelines to minimize the consumption of paper & consequently to save the environment.