By way of a judicial order, the Supreme Court has directed its Registry to not accept any paperbook for listing if it contains photographs in black-and-white.

Until properly colored photographs are filed, duly appended with dimensions and conceptual plan, the matter will remain in the category of "defects not cured", the Court has said. Moreover, if the photographs have been filed electronically, Advocates-on-Record must also file hard copies of the same.

A bench of Justice Surya Kant (now CJI), Justice SVN Bhatti and Justice Joymalya Bagchi recently passed directions to the above effect, stating,

"The Registry is directed not to clear any paper-book for listing where the photographs appended are black-and-white. Directions may be circulated amongst all AORs that unless proper coloured photographs, along with distance dimensions and supported by a conceptual plan, are appended, no such material shall be allowed to be placed on record, and the matter will remain in the list of 'defects not cured' till further orders."

The order added,

"If the photographs appended with the paper-book are filed through e-mail or e-filed, the learned AORs are directed to simultaneously submit hard copies of the coloured photographs also."

Notably, in September 2024, the top Court restrained the Registry from accepting black and white photographs produced by parties without the permission of the Court. That order was also passed by a bench led by Justice Kant.

Case Title: DINAMATI GOMES v. STATE OF GOA, SLP(C) No. 7944/2024

Citation : 2025 LiveLaw (SC) 1136

Click here to read the order