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Synopsis

A joint representation has been presented by all four Bar associations at the Madras High Court to Chief Justice Sanjay V. Gangapurwala to address various challenges encountered by lawyers in the electronic filing (e-filing) process both at the High Court and district courts.

Delivered on Monday, April 9, 2024, the representation was presented by G. Mohanakrishnan from the Madras High Court Advocates Association (MHAA), M. Baskar representing the Madras Bar Association, P. Selvaraj from the Law Association, and Louisal Ramesh, the president of the Women Lawyers Association, along with other office-bearers.

The issues highlighted through the representation included the inadequate maximum file size limit of 20MB, the requirement to convert PDF documents to OCR, the obligatory submission of hard copies post-electronic filing, and the time-consuming process of scanning case bundles.

Regarding the procedural delays, it outlined concerns about the extensive time taken for scanning case bundles in the writ section. Allegedly, due to potential understaffing in the scanning department, writs are not promptly listed for admission, resulting in a delay of approximately three to four days from the date of numbering to listing.

Questioning the necessity of submitting hard copies after e-filing, the Bar members argued against this practice, asserting it contradicts the purpose of e-filing and environmental conservation efforts. They lamented the redundant dual process of paper scanning undertaken by both advocates and the Registry.

Further, the Bar associations raised concerns about the inadequate number of appeal examiners. They advocated for the immediate assignment of a temporary registration number to each case upon e-filing, eliminating the need for examiner approval before processing. They emphasized the necessity of considering the date of e-filing as the official filing date for all purposes, suggesting corresponding amendments to the rules.

Addressing additional grievances, the Bar associations called for relaxation of requirements such as video oaths for every document and OTP verification, proposing streamlined procedures to enhance efficiency.

Lastly, they underscored the imperative of ensuring consistent Internet connectivity throughout the High Court premises, identifying specific areas experiencing connectivity issues.