Cartridge paper crisis

By Mir Mosharraf Hosain, Comilla
7 April 2006, 18:00 PM
Cartridge papers are used in the Lower Court from the Court of Asstt. Judge to District Judge for filing new cases by the plaintiffs especially in civil matter and for giving written statement or written objection by the defendants. And except this cartridge paper no other paper can be used for the purposes. The price per sheet of cartridge paper is taka 2/00 which is fixed by the government. But it is very unfortunate that at the present time cartridge paper is not readily available for which some middlemen and those who supply it from the treasury with the help of vendors have created further crisis perhaps with a money making motive. Now one is to purchase a cartridge paper at the cost of Taka 50/00 i.e. 15 times higher than the normal price.

Now a cartridge paper at thana level is sold at Taka 50/-. If one files a petition in the court he is to purchase a petition at Taka 36/- the normal price of which is Taka 7/00. It seems there is none to look into it. When the matter was brought to the notice of a learned District Judge he contacted with the Deputy Commissioner but the Deputy Commissioner perhaps could not do anything. I think it is an artificial crisis.

Previously once there was shortage of paper and at that time the learned District Judge allowed to use green paper by paying court fee of Taka 2/00. Today no forms are supplied by the government and it is locally arranged. It is the bounden duty of the government to supply forms and other necessary papers including the cartridge papers. The litigant public have no forum to put up their grievances, they cannot give pressure to the government to solve the problem. I draw the attention of the Hon'ble Law Minister to kindly look into the matter and make immediate arrangement to supply cartridge paper at the normal price.