Allahabad High Court Prescribes Uniform Formatting Rules For Physical & E-Filings; New Norms Applicable From November 12

Allahabad High Court Sets Formatting Rules

The Allahabad High Court has issued uniform formatting requirements for documents filed before it, covering both physical submissions and electronic filings. According to the new norms, pleadings must use Times New Roman font at size 14, with double spacing throughout. The rules also place restrictions on the use of bold and italics in pleadings. The changes take effect from November 12, giving litigants, advocates and filing agencies a short window to adjust their drafting practices. The stated aim is to bring consistency to the presentation of documents across the court's filing system.

Why It Matters For Businesses

For companies, tax practitioners and compliance teams, the practical effect is immediate. Petitions, replies, rejoinders and accompanying applications prepared for matters before the Allahabad High Court will need to conform to the prescribed font, spacing and emphasis limits. Firms that maintain templates for writ petitions, appeals or tax disputes should review those templates before the deadline. Documents prepared by outside counsel or filing agents may also require a verification step, since non-compliant formatting can invite objections at the filing counter or on the e-filing portal. The restriction on bold and italics is notable because many drafters rely on such formatting to highlight statutory provisions, citations or key submissions. Under the new regime, emphasis will need to be conveyed through the structure and language of the pleading rather than typography. Organisations with recurring litigation in Uttar Pradesh should treat this as a process update rather than a one-off change.

What To Watch Next

Readers should watch for the court's clarification on how strictly the norms will be enforced, particularly whether defective filings will be returned, re-filed or allowed with condonation. It also remains to be seen whether similar formatting standards are adopted by other High Courts or refle…