The Supreme Court of India recently launched a new official version of its e-filing software.
Earlier this month, it released a test version of the same for crowd-testing.
The new software will allow litigants & advocates to file case applications, various documents, caveat, pay court fees, oversee notification of defects, and access and share digitized paper books.
A public notice issued by the top court stated that there will be no levy of printing charges.
The notice stated, “Please note that the new e-Filing software shall enable the Advocates-on-Record, Party-in-Person through online mode – to file cases applications, miscellaneous documents, caveat, pay court fees, notification of defects, accessing the digitized paper-books and sharing the digitized paper-books with Senior Advocates, Advocates, email and short message services (SMS) notifications. The Competent Authority has been pleased to direct that there shall be no levy of printing charges.”
Therefore, the existing, old e-filing software will be discontinued from July 22 this year.
The top court’s e-committee, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, has in recent years pushed for e-filing in courts & tribunals across the country.
In October 2021, it directed all High Courts to ensure that all cases filed by the government are through e-filing mode.
In September 2022, the CJI pointed out the importance of modifying of court records going hand-in-hand with the endeavors sought to be achieved by e-filing. He said that this is with regard to advocates’ hard copies needing to then be digitized by court staff, leading to an increased carbon footprint.
In March this year, the CJI directed Debts Recovery Tribunals and Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals to set up comprehensive E-Sewa Kendras to facilitate e-filing.
The e-Filing software version 2.0 can be accessed here.
