The Delhi High Court implemented guidelines for Electronic True Copies (ETCs) of court records, aiming to streamline digital document processes within the legal system. These rules seek to ensure the authenticity and integrity of electronically generated copies, maintaining standards akin to physical court records. The move aligns with ongoing efforts to modernize legal procedures and enhance accessibility to legal documents in digital formats.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court recently issued a set of regulations termed the “e-True Copy Rules of the High Court of Delhi, 2024,” which pertain to the provision of authenticated electronic copies, or e-True Copies, of legal documents from the High Court and its subordinate district courts.
Under these new rules, any requests for e-True Copies must be submitted exclusively via the official web portal or mobile app designated by the High Court or the district courts. Each party eligible for an e-True Copy restricted to submitting only one electronic application per legal action at any given time.
The newly introduced regulations also cater to scenarios where digital versions of court records are not available.
According to the notification,
“In cases where the Digitized record is not available, the electronic application for e-True copy shall be treated as the one for physical certified copy and the dealing official shall inform the applicant about the same.”
The applicant is then required to pay the fee for a physical certified copy according to the existing rules. If the fee is not paid, “the application shall stand disposed of on expiry of 10 working days from the date of intimation to the applicant.”
Furthermore, the rules include provisions for applicants who either have disabilities or do not reside in Delhi.
Thereby ensuring accessibility and convenience for all parties involved. For these individuals, the notification states,
“Nothing herein shall apply, in case the applicant is a person with disability or not residing in Delhi, the record of such Actions shall be digitized and e-True copy shall be made available,”
The notification emphasizes the importance of maintaining confidentiality throughout the process of issuing e-True Copies of court records. It explicitly states that these copies must not be used for any unauthorized purposes to safeguard the integrity and privacy of the judicial documents.
Expanding on the protocol for unintended disclosure, the notification provides clear instructions for handling such situations,
“In the event an e-True Copy is inadvertently shared with a person not entitled to access or inspect the e-True Copy, such person shall immediately inform about the same to the Authorized officer and shall not use and share the said e-True Copy for any purpose.”
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This rule ensures that if an e-True Copy falls into the hands of someone not authorized to view it, they are obligated to report this breach to the designated authority and are strictly prohibited from using or further distributing the document.
This measure designed to prevent any unauthorized dissemination of sensitive information and maintain the confidentiality of the legal records.
Read Notification:
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