3 weeks ago
Gujarat advocates strike over new A4 paper, font filing rules
Lawyers in the Indian state of Gujarat are upset about new rules for how court papers must look.
The Gujarat High Court said all documents must be typed on a computer and printed on special A4 paper.
The paper must be a certain size and thickness, and the words must use certain fonts and sizes.
These rules started on August 1, 2026.
Many lawyers say they do not have the computers, printers, or even reliable electricity needed to follow the rules, especially in small towns and tribal areas.
Some people still write their court papers by hand.
The lawyers stopped doing court work to protest, and even locked the gates of a court in Vadodara.
The Bar Council of Gujarat asked the Chief Justice to pause the new rules for six months so everyone can get ready.
Advocates locked the gates of the Vadodara district court on Thursday as an indefinite statewide strike against the Gujarat High Court's new filing rules gained momentum.
The mandatory formatting requirements, mandating computer-formatted pleadings on A4 paper in specified fonts and sizes, took effect on August 1, 2026, after a circular was issued on April 15, 2026.
Bar associations say the required software, fonts, computers and printing facilities are unavailable in several districts, particularly in tribal and rural areas such as Dahod and Chhota Udepur.
The Bar Council of Gujarat wrote to Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal on August 5, urging the high court to keep implementation in abeyance and grant a six-month transition period.
The circular mandates A4 paper of not less than 75 GSM printed on both sides, Gujarati fonts (Lohit Gujarati/Noto Sans Gujarati/Noto Serif Gujarati) at size 13 and/or Times New Roman at size 14, with specified margins and spacing.
- Who
- Advocates and bar associations across Gujarat, including the Bar Council of Gujarat, are protesting against the Gujarat High Court, led by Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal.
- What
- An indefinite statewide strike against new court filing rules that mandate computer-formatted pleadings on A4 paper in specified fonts and sizes.
- Where
- Gujarat, India, including the Vadodara district court and districts such as Dahod and Chhota Udepur.
- When
- The strike intensified after the mandatory requirements took effect on August 1, 2026; the circular was issued on April 15, 2026.
- Why
- Lawyers say the required software, fonts, printing facilities and digital infrastructure are unavailable in many districts, particularly tribal and rural areas, making compliance impractical.
Bar associations and advocates
Gujarat High Court
Digitisation and uniformity
Bar associations and advocates
Bar associations say they are not opposed to digitisation or uniformity, but the directions were implemented without first ensuring that district courts, advocates and litigants have access to the required software, fonts and printing facilities.
Gujarat High Court
The high court's circular, issued on the recommendation of its Rules Committee and the District Judiciary Rules Committee, mandates uniform A4 paper and prescribed fonts for all pleadings across every district court in Gujarat.
Infrastructure readiness
Bar associations and advocates
Nearly 80 per cent of advocates practising in subordinate courts lack independent office premises or computer facilities and rely on typists, while trial courts in tribal and remote areas face irregular electricity supply and poor digital infrastructure.
Gujarat High Court
The new formatting requirements took effect on August 1 as scheduled, after implementation was previously deferred at the request of the bar associations.
Transition and flexibility
Bar associations and advocates
The Bar Council requests keeping implementation in abeyance for six months, allowing the continued use of regular fonts, legal-size paper, typewritten documents and handwritten applications, particularly for urgent matters.
Gujarat High Court
The circular's mandatory filing requirements apply from August 1, with exemptions limited to police papers, chargesheets, police reports, Forensic Science Laboratory reports and original documents, among others.
Key facts
- Circular issued
- April 15, 2026
- Rules effective
- August 1, 2026
- Required paper
- A4 (29.7 cm x 21 cm), not less than 75 GSM, printed on both sides
- Prescribed fonts
- Lohit Gujarati/Noto Sans Gujarati/Noto Serif Gujarati (size 13) and/or Times New Roman (size 14)
- Margins
- 4 cm left and right, 2 cm top and bottom
- Transition period requested
- Six months
- Bar Council letter
- Sent to Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal on August 5, 2026
- Legal basis
- Section 123 of the Code of Civil Procedure
Quotes
Advocate Nimisha Dhotre
Member of the Bar Council of Gujarat and Treasurer of the Baroda Bar Association
“"Many advocates, particularly those practising in Dahod, are facing practical problems because the necessary facilities are not available locally. Therefore, all advocates in Dahod have requested that the circular either be amended or suitably modified."”
indianexpress.com
“"Lawyers have closed the gates of the Vadodara district court in protest. The court has mandated computerised applications. Earlier, even handwritten applications were accepted."”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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