Presently A-4 size paper (29.5 cms x 21 cms) is most commonly used size of paper-sheets. All photocopiers used in homes and offices are mostly equipped to handle this size of paper-sheets only. But there is a distinct size of legal paper-sheets for filing and use in courts which is 5 cms longer at 34.5 cms x 21 cms. Courts should do away with British-era practice, and allow only A-4 size paper-sheets till Union government works out for a new standardised paper-size based on metric-units. Rather concept of legal-size paper should be altogether abolished. System will be user-friendly and people will not have to rush outside for photo-copying bigger sized legal-papers presently used and allowed in courts. However colour-code of paper to be used in courts can be different like green is used in Madras High Court. It is for Supreme Court or Chief Justice of India to do away with such anti-public colonial practice of having exclusive legal-size paper for courts.
Union government should take up matter with concerned international authorities to have standard usable paper-sheets in square form like 25 cms x 25 cms instead of present practice of having rectangular paper-sheets. Such square-sheets were quite common for bank-ledgers before computerisation. However if rectangular paper-sheets are to be continued, then their size should be modified according to true metric-units say 30 cms x 20 cms. Even computer-stationary used at dot-matrix printers should also have usable size (without perforation) as that of standard paper-sheets.
SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL