High Court Directs Delhi Govt: Create OTP-based System For Processing Payment Of Professional Fees To Standing Counsels

The Delhi High Court in the case Piyush Gupta v. Govt Of NCT Of Delhi And Ors observed and has directed the Delhi Government to ensure that an OTP-based verification system is created on the Online Single Window System (OSWS) portal within a period of four weeks for seamless processing of the payment of professional fees of the standing counsels.

In order to apply for the payment, at present, a standing counsel is required to download the form, fill details of the bill and then upload the signed and scanned copy on the OSWS portal.

The Division bench comprising of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad observed and stated that the present process is ‘cumbersome’ and purpose of seamless submission of bills is being defeated.

The Court in an order passed on October 6 stated that the State is directed to ensure that some provision of OTP based signature is made available as the present process is cumbersome and the purpose of seamless submission of bills is being defeated. Thus, let the same be done within four weeks.

The order has been passed in the petition moved by Advocate Piyush Gupta seeking clearance of bills of various government counsels engaged with the Delhi Government, Centre and municipal bodies. However, the bills have been kept pending for long, the plea alleges. Earlier, the court has been told that despite various representations being made by the aggrieved counsels as well judicial orders and the concerned departments have not cleared the bill.

Santosh Kumar Tripathi, Delhi Government’s standing counsel, on October 6 appraised the court that the new portal has become operational for payment of profession fees to the standing counsels.

However, it was also submitted by him that some provision of OTP based system should be made available in the portal for reducing the time period in sanctioning the bills.

During the hearing, it has also been appraised by the bench about an order passed on August 25, 2020 wherein the Delhi Government, Centre and municipal bodies were directed to clear the pending bills of standing counsels within a period of four weeks. Also, it was told that same has not been done yet.

The Court stated that let the exercise be concluded positively before the next date of hearing and the Respondents shall make all endeavour in clearing the bills which are pending till date.

Accordingly, the matter will now be heard on December 12.

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