By Ramneek kaur, a student at Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, New Delhi
Abstract
Indian judiciary was in real need to optimize human resources and management of the available information, which is possible through enablement of ICT. It ensures judicial productivity thereby making the judicial process more affordable, accessible, time effective, cost effective and transparent. Role of computers in Supreme Court and High court began from 1990, after which it was felt that enablement of ICT in judiciary is crucial now. Initially accounts and payrolls were maintained and afterwards business transactions and printing orders or judgments begun. Moreover this article will elucidate implementation of ICT program, judicial portal and other efficacious services summing up with training given to judges about digitalization and various phases through which the action plan took its pace in ICT.
Keywords
Enablement, ICT, Equipment, Judicial System
Introduction
Earlier Indian judiciary works on a very slow pace, as one who needs to analyze and find the judgments wholly was a time taking task but after the enablement of ICT through various phases the overall scenario was changed. ICT plays a pivotal role in our Indian judiciary because a great ease was felt after the implementation of ICT across all the courts in the country. So it all started when chief justice of India proposed the central government via a letter addressed to minister of law and justice to formulate an E-committee to assist him on implementing a national policy on computerization of Indian judiciary. The union approved the proposal of chief justice of India. Furthermore the E- committee prepared a report discussing the plan for enablement of ICT which was proposed to the chief justice of India and further forwarded to chief justices of High Court by the chief justice of India for consideration. Relying on the views, changes and inputs by the people having expertise in ICT, E-committee framed a national and action plan for 5 years from the date of its commencement.
Implementation of ICT program
A plan was prepared by the E-committee, for the time span of 5 years seeks to achieve and optimize resources to the great extent. Both the central and state government showed full support to the initiation of E-committee for implementation. For making the use of ICT meaningful, creation of ICT infrastructure was highly focused. It includes installation servers, printers, hubs, routers, scanner and other necessary electrical equipment. The requirements of judicial system were mapped up and depending upon the requirement the ICT infrastructure was prepared. Each court complex was supposed to have a computer room with all the ICT equipment, cables and required electric appliances. Meanwhile the communication setup was also taken care of; internet connection was a vital for implementation of ICT, even for judicial offices in home that broadband connection was proposed as necessary.
Judicial portals and other efficacious services
E-committee has taken the initiative for setup of web portals, which are registered as indianjudiciary.in and indiancourts.in. These websites were created with a view to have information on state judiciary, Supreme Court and other legal information. It also comprises judgments and profile of chief justice of India and other chief justices. Moreover the real time data get immediately uploaded on these sites for status check and other details. Data entry, editing and deletion were allowed to be done by the staff having technical expertise in ICT. These sites were digital version of information with all the legal data and speeches of chief justices.
A centralized email server was also proposed for the Indian judiciary, which allowed the issuance of email id to only some of the court officials. The email server was made up of security features keeping in mind the sensitiveness of the data. Meanwhile the maintenance was catered by the in house technical expert team. After the successful test of the websites, everybody started accessing it, thereby it became so easy and convenient to enter and store the information in the database which ultimately boosted up the role of ICT in the judicial system.
Phases of the action plan in enablement of ICT
Phase1: Phase1 was the initial phase of two years which focused on implementation of ICT. It formulated the full architecture plan by analyzing the existing setup and collection of several inputs from High Courts and District Courts. Meanwhile preparation of websites was made to facilitate all the information about the Indian judicial system and can be accessed by judges, advocates, court officers and public. Furthermore national judicial data grid was created where the court officials can access all the numerical and real time date about the case, i.e., its pendency, disposal and filing etc. The judges of all the courts were provided laptops with latest technology as to which they can comfortably work from home or their chambers. It also focused on generating video conferencing facilities and extension of computer and other support appliances.
Phase2: Phase2 also lasted for two years like Phase1, it envisaged upon the coordination and infrastructural part of ICT in courts. Installation of hardware and software was made to meet the requirements of courts. Traditional method of following diverse methods was replaced by computerize storage at every stage by the court officials, which helped a lot in management procedure. Computerization was also extended to the court processing areas. Moreover training of judges and other staff was taken care; best teachers with efficient technical expertise were called to train them.
Phase3: Phase3 was the last phase of one year which emphasized on the coverage of ICT in judicial system from filing of case to all the administrative activities. After having a look towards the pendency of cases 15,000 new courts were decided to be established with the same facilities that existing courts were having. Digital system was integrated with external entities as well like police, jail, registration office and other places wherever required. Installation of biometrics was made for ease in process.
Conclusion
ICT played an enormous and significant role in Indian judiciary. The aim of E-committee was to enable ICT from district courts to the courts across the country. This project had a pivotal role on deployment of software, hardware, electric supplies and other necessary appliances. It also created websites to make a comfortable situation for the judicial staff to work on thereby increasing the pace of ICT in the judicial domain. The replacement of traditional methods to the digitalization of the legal information through ICT assisted the judicial officers in a lot of ways. Now the solutions and disposal of the case can be made at a speedy pace as the information accessibility and transparency is ensured by the use of ICT and the stored data is accurate without discrepancies which therefore help in effective justice delivery system.
FAQs
Who approved the proposal of chief justice to constitute an E- committee?
Union cabinet
How many phases of action plan were there in enablement of ICT?
Three phases were there: Phase1- Implementation of ICT Phase2- Infrastructural plan of ICT Phase3- coverage of ICT in Judicial system from filing to other administrative activities
Why the enablement of ICT is necessary for the Indian judicial system?
It is necessary because replacement of traditional methods of accessing information to the digitalization of the legal information through ICT assisted the judicial officers in a lot of ways. Now the solutions and disposal of the case can be made at a speedy pace as the information accessibility and transparency is ensured by the use of ICT.
What are the changes after enablement of ICT?
- Ease in justice delivery system
- Accessing legal information is now an easy task
- One can easily check the judicial portals for case status
References
