Manual typists have been part of India’s court ecosystem since pre-Independence times, long before desktop computers entered offices in the 1990s.
Hyderabad: For years, the sound of typewriters outside the Secunderabad Civil Court was part of daily life for those attending court matters and passers-by. Suddenly, on Saturday, the pavement with the long-standing kiosks fell silent. In a sudden eviction drive on Saturday morning, the GHMC removed nearly 70 legal typists and vendors from the footpath outside the court. Their bamboo sheds were dismantled, and their typewriters packed up.
For these elderly typists and vendors, this was their only source of income—and a lifeline for thousands who still rely on their help in a digital world. “We were given no notice. We come from 50 km away every day just to earn a living,” said Palley Prasad, a legal stamp vendor who worked near the court for years. Uma Lakshmi, a woman typist-cum-vendor, said, “I am a single woman, where should I go now? This is our only source of income. My mother is sick. I can't even afford her injection now.”
Manual typists have been part of India’s court ecosystem since pre-Independence times, long before desktop computers entered offices in the 1990s. Typewriters were once the backbone of legal and administrative work, but their relevance is fading fast.
Until Saturday, the typists' daily routine involved coming early, setting up typewriters under bamboo sheds and typing affidavits, agreements and legal papers for those who still trusted them. The group of elderly typists typed documents using manual machines even as digital services like MeeSeva took over.
Most have been at the spot for nearly five decades. Among them is Sudarshan Yadav, a senior typist who has spent 57 years in the profession. “I started with this work when I was a teenager. I used to print thousands of legal papers and file them properly,” he said.
The typists usually charge Rs.100 to Rs.150 per document, depending on the length and type. Clients often get a finished copy within 15 to 20 minutes, ready for stamping. Once the typing is done, clients get it signed and sealed by nearby notary officers who sit in adjacent sheds—forming a small but complete legal documentation hub. “Even today, court clerks accept typed affidavits without issue,” said Srinivas Goud, one such notary.
Most documents are typed from memory, without templates, following the legal structure. There is no undo button. “Sometimes, one mistake means the whole paper is rejected. That’s why we are careful with every word,” said Sudarshan, highlighting the precision the work demands even after decades of experience.
Marri Muthyalu, a visitor from a village near Yadagirigutta, came with a land-related issue some days before the eviction. “I do not understand the internet. Someone from my village told me to go to the court typist for help. They type and explain everything,” he said. “People come to us when they need a real, official format for affidavits, notary papers, and other applications,” said Mahender Reddy, another senior typist, a day before the eviction. “We know the language of the law. We help people daily.”
GHMC official Sunitha said, "The traffic police had issued a notice, but they ignored it. This is illegal encroachment of government land, and action will be taken accordingly." Many of the evicted vendors have appealed for a designated area where they can continue their work without disrupting public pathways. So far, no relocation support has been announced by the municipal body.
