How to Apply for a Certified Copy of a Court Judgement – Complete Procedure

Introduction

Want a certified copy of court judgement, but don’t know how and where to apply for it?Whether you need it for filing an appeal, complying with legal requirements, presenting it before another authority, or simply keeping it for your records, obtaining a certified copy is an essential part of the legal process. However, for many people, the procedure can seem confusing due to unfamiliar terminology and court formalities. The good news is that applying for a certified copy is a straightforward process once you understand the steps involved.

In this article, we’ll go through the complete step by step process of application for a certified copy of a court judgement. After reading this, you would be able to apply for a certified copy of Judgement from any court in India. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to obtain your certified copy with confidence.

What is a certified copy of Judgment?

A certified copy is the official replica of the court’s original judgment, which bears the signature and stamp of the court authorities, which confirms the authenticity of the document.

It carries evidentiary value and only a certified copy can be used to file a petition for appeal or any other official process. Printouts or mere photocopies are not admissible in the court of law.

Who can apply for a certified copy?

The following people can apply for the certified copies from the court:

1. The Parties of the Case– Plaintiff, Defendant, Petitioner or Respondent etc.
2. Their lawyers
3. Legal Heirs of the Parties (If original party is deceased)
4. Any Third Party with legitimate interest in the case

The Court can dismiss the application if no legitimate interest is shown.

Where to apply for the copy?

Don’t waste your time by going to the wrong court! The application for the copy of the Judgement can only be filed in the same court in which the case was heard.

You need to visit the court’s Copy Section or Office or Record Room to get the application form.

Nowadays you can even download the application form from the court’s official website.

Step-by-Step Process (Offline)

Step 1: Get the application form 

• Visit the correct court who pronounced the Judgement
• Go to their Copy Section and Purchase the application form

Step 2: Fill details in application form

1. Your Name, Address etc.
2. Case Name, Title and Year etc. (Most Crucial)
3. Name of the Judge or Court Number
4. Specific document required from the court (Judgement, Order etc.)
5. Purpose (Appeal, Personal record etc.)
6. Number of copies required

Step 3: Pay the application fee

• Amount of application fee depends on-
  • The number of pages in the Judgements
  • Court rooms (Supreme Court’s judgement copy costs more than that of District Court)
  • Your urgency to get the Judgement (Normal, Urgent or Tatkal)
• Usually the fees range from ₹2 to ₹10 per page, and the Judgement would be of at least 15-20 pages.
• The fee is paid through court fee stamps that can be purchased from licensed vendors in the court premises.

Step 4: Submit the Application form along with the fees

1. Submit the application form and fee in the Copy Section/Record Room of the Court.
2. Court Staff would check your application
3. Once accepted, they’ll give you a receipt as acknowledgement
4. Keep the receipt safe with you as it’s the proof of your application and helps in the future tracking process.

Step 5: Wait for the application to be processed

1. After you submit the application, the court staff locates your case file and judgement
2. They later copy the requested document in required quantities
3. Every page of the copy gets signed and stamped.
4. This process can take up to 3 to 30 working days depending on the court’s workload and urgency chosen by you at the time of filling the application.
5. Tatkal is the quick service followed by Urgent and Normal.

Step 6: Visit the Court to collect the Certified copy

1. Visit the court after the expected date of completion of processing
2. Go to the Copy Section/Record Room and show your receipt
3. If the processing is done then the court staff would hand over the certified copy to you
4. Check it very carefully, in case there may be any issues (wrong document, not properly signed or stamped etc.)
5. If there’s any problem with it then immediately return it to the counter. They’ll correct it.

Step-by-Step Process (Online)

Step 1: Visit the specific E-courts website

• Many courts in India now allow online applications for getting certified copies of the documents.
• You have to visit your state-specific or court-specific website to apply.
• Some of the E-court websites are:
  • National Portal: services.ecourts.gov.in
  • Delhi High Court: delhihighcourt.nic.in
  • Bombay High Court: bombayhighcourt.nic.in
  • Madras High Court: https://hcmadras.tn.gov.in

Step 2: Sign up/Log In into the website

• Sign up to register your account
• Verify through your Mobile Number or Email address
• Log In into your account
• Click on the “Copy Application” or “Certified Copy” button to open the form.

Step 3: Fill the Application Form

• Fill all the necessary case details like, Name, Number, Year, Court etc.
• Specify the document that you require from the court
• Select the urgency of the documents along with the reason (If chosen Tatkal/Urgent option)
• Upload the required documents and ID proofs
• Select the required number of pages and copies

Step 4: Pay the application fee

• Submit the application fee online via Net Banking/UPI/Card
• System would automatically calculate the fees for you
• After submission, you’ll get the payment receipt

Step 5: Submit the form

• After the payment is done, you can submit the application form.
• An acknowledgement would be generated along with the reference number
• Through this reference number, you can track the current status of your application.

Step 6: Get your Certified Copy

• You can either download the E-copy through the website
• Or, can visit the court to get the Physical Copy of Judgement

Conclusion

Obtaining a certified copy of a court judgment doesn’t have to be complicated. Once you’re familiar with the application process, required documents, applicable fees, and expected timelines, you can complete the procedure with minimal difficulty. Ensuring that your application is accurate and complete will help avoid unnecessary delays and make the process smoother. If you’re unsure about any court-specific requirements, it’s always advisable to check with the concerned court or seek guidance from a legal professional.