The Allahabad High Court has made significant strides in making judicial processes more accessible by allowing petitioners to file petitions directly through e-service centers located in district courts. This decision, a response to a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by senior lawyer KC Jain, aims to streamline the filing process and reduce the need for petitioners to travel to Allahabad for routine procedures like photo and affidavit verification.
As per the central public information officer of the Allahabad High Court, petitioners are now enabled to file any type of petition within the high court’s jurisdiction without the previously mandatory visit to Allahabad. The only requirement is that petitioners must be physically present at the e-service centers to submit a scanned, notarized affidavit that includes their photograph.
This initiative was communicated to all district judges with a directive to implement these changes effectively. However, compliance has been uneven across the state, leading to further calls for action. “Several district courts across the state have not yet complied with the Allahabad High Court’s directions dated April 23, 2024,” stated KC Jain. He emphasized the urgency of establishing e-filing facilities to ensure that litigants can fully benefit from this new provision.
Also Read
Jain also advocated for the removal of the photo verification requirement for affidavits in petitions filed through an advocate, arguing that the necessity to travel to Prayagraj for this purpose alone adds unnecessary costs and delays, thereby obstructing the path to justice.
