LG highlights initiatives for ICT enablement of courts
IT initiatives for High Court, District Courts too launched
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 28: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dr Justice D Y Chandrachud today laid foundation stone for the new complex of J&K and Ladakh High Court at Raika in presence of Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brig (Dr) B D Mishra (Retd) and Judges of Supreme Court and High Court.
On the occasion, Document Management System (DMS) for High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and National Service and Tracking of Electronic Process (N-STEP) for District Courts were also launched.
In his address, Chief Justice of India described the Judicial Officers as front line warriors and exhorted them to live up to the expectations of the common man who is seeking justice and said, “it is our endeavour that every section of the society, poor or underprivileged have access to justice. The foundation of new High Court complex and the newly launched IT initiatives are pioneer steps in bringing reforms in the justice delivery system”.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed gratitude to the Government of India for its support for the mega project and said that the new complex of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court will be an integrated complex with state-of-the-art physical infrastructure and modern amenities.
“The COVID-19 had thrown immense challenges before the judiciary as unlike other institutions it was not possible to keep the courts closed for the people and as Chairman of Supreme Court’s e-Committee I ensured use of technology like Video-Conferencing in the High Courts across the country so as to provide timely justice to the litigants”, Chief Justice of India said, adding during the past three years Supreme Court has ensured immense use of technology in justice dispensation system.
“The Data Management System will help in keeping disposed off files in a secured and centralized place and this will also reduce use of papers in the courts”, CJI said, adding “similarly, NSTEP will help in serving of notice/summons in electronic form, posting and record of real-time updates from remote locations reducing inordinate delays in process service and ensure transparent tracking of service of process and summons by all stakeholders”.
Stating that the service of summons and processes by traditional methods are often a cause for inevitable delay in speedy disposal of cases and NSTEP will go a long way in streamlining the system, Chief Justice of India said, “taking latest technologies to the District Courts level is my priority as litigants first knock the doors of the District Courts for dispensation of justice”.
“As difficult and tough terrain of J&K and Ladakh Union Territories creates problems for the litigants in approaching the judiciary well in time latest technologies being introduced by the Supreme Court will go a long way in mitigating their difficulties on this count”, Justice Chandrachud said.
Stating that participation of women in the field of law and justice is less across the country, the CJI said, “since its establishment in 1928, only two women have remained Judges of J&K High Court besides Justice Gita Mittal as Chief Justice”, adding “I want to see more women as Judges of the High Courts and in other fields of law and justice”.
The Lt Governor lauded the e-Committee of Supreme Court and Department of Law and Justice for their efforts to use future technologies such as artificial intelligence for seamless and efficient justice delivery systems in courts.
“Millions of hits to e-Court Services every day reflect citizen-centric efforts, ease of justice and digital empowerment,” the Lt Governor said, adding “75 years journey of India’s independence is witness to democratic institutions fulfilling hope and aspiration of common citizens. Our Constitution as guiding light has ensured prosperity, socio-economic progress and dignity for all”.
The Lt Governor said the two important IT initiatives for the High Court and all District Courts launched today will make legal system inclusive and accessible to all. He also highlighted various initiatives taken recently in J&K for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) enablement of courts and shared the IT initiatives of the UT Government to make the governance process transparent, accountable and responsive.
Brig (Dr) B D Mishra (Retd), Lt Governor UT of Ladakh gave a detailed discourse on fundamental duties and highlighted that democracy has to be defended by ensuring that the tenet of justice is upheld.
Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union MoS for Law and Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, who joined through virtual mode, expressed hope that the DMS and N-STEP facilities would be milestones in the technology sector and would accelerate the pace of development and progress. He assured all possible financial support and adequate budget to the Government of J&K for the judicial infrastructural development.
Two Supreme Court Judges Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice N Kotiswar Singh, Chief Justice High Court of J&K and Ladakh also spoke on the occasion.
An overview on the functionality of DMS was displayed by a video presentation and the Mobile Phones for N-STEP Application were distributed to the Process Servers to mark the launch of the initiative.
The girl students of Louis Braille Memorial Residential School presented the Saraswati Vandana.
Judges of Supreme Court of India and High Court of J&K and Ladakh; members of Judiciary and legal fraternity, senior officials of Police and Civil administration were also present.
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