NEW DELHI: Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud on Thursday acknowledged ‘solid financial backing’ from the government to modernize judicial infrastructure with information technology and said litigants and lawyers across the country can now access the highest court of the land with a click of a button.
Announcing another step forward in SC’s rapid advancement in infusing information technology in its day to day working, the CJI said SC’s I-T services are now fully synced with WhatsApp that will enable lawyers and litigants to directly receive from court notifications about filing and registrations of petitions, date of hearing, orders and judgments, in addition to receiving the list of cases put up for hearing before the benches.
The CJI said that the SC is gradually becoming a paperless court and the latest initiative of sending notifications through WhatsApp messages would save many trees. Senior advocate Zal T Andhyarujina said that SC has set the bar high for digitization and I-T infrastructure. “It would be really good if the High Courts and the tribunals also adopted the same model,” he said.
CJI said digital storage of huge data in possession of courts was a problem earlier but now with the advent of indigenous cloud-based storage in Meghraj 2.0, all courts can migrate to digital and virtual mode. Since the data is stored inside India and does not go to cloud storages outside, it is safe, he said.
Justice Chandrachud said adapting to technological advancements is really an issue concerning mindset. “Some High Courts had said that video links for court hearings must be sought 48 hours in advance, while others said it would be accessed by senior citizens. Why would the links be not provided with the causelist, I do not understand. Any why only senior citizens can access virtual hearing when technology is age agnostic?”
He said the govt had sanctioned Rs 7000 cr for modernization of judicial I-T infrastructure , of which Rs 800 crore have been spent between November and March. Most HCs have implemented e-court projects. “We are moving rapidly. There is solid financial backing from the government. The money from the government goes directly to HCs through SC’s e-Committee.
Solicitor general termed the steps taken by CJI for I-T infrastructure in courts as revolutionary and said, “There is a direction from the PM that digitization and I-T infrastructure improvement of courts is the first priority as these ensure access to justice for everyone.”
The CJI said I-T technology ensures that a trial does not get postponed just because the investigating officer of a criminal case is transferred out. A doctor need not take leave from a hospital to appear in a trial court, which he can do now virtually, the CJI said.
Announcing another step forward in SC’s rapid advancement in infusing information technology in its day to day working, the CJI said SC’s I-T services are now fully synced with WhatsApp that will enable lawyers and litigants to directly receive from court notifications about filing and registrations of petitions, date of hearing, orders and judgments, in addition to receiving the list of cases put up for hearing before the benches.
The CJI said that the SC is gradually becoming a paperless court and the latest initiative of sending notifications through WhatsApp messages would save many trees. Senior advocate Zal T Andhyarujina said that SC has set the bar high for digitization and I-T infrastructure. “It would be really good if the High Courts and the tribunals also adopted the same model,” he said.
CJI said digital storage of huge data in possession of courts was a problem earlier but now with the advent of indigenous cloud-based storage in Meghraj 2.0, all courts can migrate to digital and virtual mode. Since the data is stored inside India and does not go to cloud storages outside, it is safe, he said.
Justice Chandrachud said adapting to technological advancements is really an issue concerning mindset. “Some High Courts had said that video links for court hearings must be sought 48 hours in advance, while others said it would be accessed by senior citizens. Why would the links be not provided with the causelist, I do not understand. Any why only senior citizens can access virtual hearing when technology is age agnostic?”
He said the govt had sanctioned Rs 7000 cr for modernization of judicial I-T infrastructure , of which Rs 800 crore have been spent between November and March. Most HCs have implemented e-court projects. “We are moving rapidly. There is solid financial backing from the government. The money from the government goes directly to HCs through SC’s e-Committee.
Solicitor general termed the steps taken by CJI for I-T infrastructure in courts as revolutionary and said, “There is a direction from the PM that digitization and I-T infrastructure improvement of courts is the first priority as these ensure access to justice for everyone.”
The CJI said I-T technology ensures that a trial does not get postponed just because the investigating officer of a criminal case is transferred out. A doctor need not take leave from a hospital to appear in a trial court, which he can do now virtually, the CJI said.
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