SLP registry defects
Curing Common SLP Registry Defects
After an SLP is filed, the Registry scrutinises it for compliance with the Supreme Court Rules, 2013. Any non-compliance is recorded as a "defect." Until the defects are cured, the matter does not proceed — and defects left uncured can cause the petition to lapse.
This guide explains the scrutiny process, the defects that recur most often, and how to keep your filing clean.
How Registry scrutiny works
A scrutiny assistant checks whether the SLP is in the proper format and conforms to the Supreme Court Rules. Defects are entered on the system, and the AoR is expected to remove them by refiling within the prescribed window (as a rule, 28 days). Failure to cure within time can be fatal to the petition.
The most common SLP defects
- Impugned order not annexed, or annexed without a certified copy.
- Pagination not continuous; index entries pointing to wrong pages.
- Annexures not in sequence or not referenced in the petition.
- Limitation not addressed — no condonation of delay application where the filing is late.
- Incomplete listing proforma or missing checklist items.
- Affidavit or vakalatnama defective or unsigned.
Curing defects and the refiling clock
Once defects are notified, correct each one precisely and refile within the window. Partial cures invite fresh objections and burn time you may not have, especially where limitation is already tight.
Avoiding defects in the first place
The cheapest defect is the one that never happens. A consistent, rule-compliant assembly process — correct order, continuous pagination, a reconciled index, the right applications attached — eliminates the bulk of routine objections before the paper book ever reaches the scrutiny desk.