Why Supreme Court has called for SOP on filing of SLP paper books

The Supreme Court recently called for laying down a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to streamline the filing of paper books (compilation of pleadings and other relevant documents) before the top court in cases arising out of special leave petitions (SLPs) [Anjumol VA and ors vs Kerala Public Service Commission and ors]..A Bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Sanjay Karol noted that the Supreme Court was facing various practical difficulties as the paper books before filed before it were ridden with defects.The Bench, thus, directed its Secretary General, the Registry and the Judicial Registrar (Judicial) to expeditiously prepare an SOP, after getting appropriate orders from the Chief Justice of India (CJI). .The Court passed the order while reserving its verdict in a case concerning appointments made by the Kerala Public Service Commission.The Bench also flagged the certain issues that were noticed time and again in paper books filed before the Court, including the following:(i) The orders passed in the proceedings are not attached to the paper books; (ii) In service matters, the counsel for the petitioners were not attaching the relevant rules with an appendix in the SLP paper books or even referring the same in pleadings. Sometimes, the Rules were filed in a piecemeal fashion, with applications or with additional documents, due to which cases were required to be postponed, which caused additional financial burdens for parties and delays in adjudication. (iii) Counter affidavits are sometime attached to the main SLP paper book without flagging and inviting attention, and sometime as a separate paper book. All of this leaves the judges to make unnecessary searches in the documents and wastes time. (iv) When convenience compilations are filed on the Court's directions, they are not sent to the residential offices of the judges either in hard copy or by way of emailing, or even during hearings. (v) The IA number is not properly exhibited on its face. The applications are not attached date-wise with the paper books, which causes inconvenience to the judges. (vi) Other ancillary issues were also coming in various paper books, which were causing difficulties in day-to-day functioning of the Court. ."We hope and trust, for efficient functioning of the Court, due compliance shall be made as expeditiously as possible," the Bench added in its April 16 order..Supreme Court directs High Courts to ensure bail orders mention FIR number, date, details of offences, police station.[Read order]