The Supreme Court e-committee has released its September 2022 newsletter. The newsletter outlined several major developments and measures taken at all district courts of Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, and the High Court of Kerala, among others.
Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud is the Patron-in-Chief and Chairperson of the e-Committee of the Supreme Court of India.
As per the news letter, the High Court of Orissa inaugurated paperless courts in the district courts and released the special postal cover on 17.09.2022 in the august presence of Hon’ble Mr Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, the Chief Justice of India, Hon’ble Dr Justice D Y Chandrachud, Chairperson, e-Committee, Hon’ble Mr Justice M.R. Shah, Judge Supreme Court.
The paperless court has an all-in-one touch-screen personal system in which digital files will be displayed automatically. The paperless court for the High court, the paperless court is introduced in bail jurisdiction, tax-related appeals, etc
The news letter also outlined about the effort of High Court of Gauhati which while keeping in tune with the modernisation in technology ,has moved forward with the task of live streaming of Court proceedings.
At the initial stage, three Courts of the Principal Seat were identified and accordingly live streaming of Court proceedings have been going on in the identified Courts with effect from 26 September 2022.
The number of Courts for live streaming will be increased in a phased manner, and all the Courts of the Gauhati High Court will come under the preview of live streaming in the coming days.
The newsletter mentions about a brief programme which was organized at the premises of the High Court of Tripura where a dedicated Video Conferencing Room of the High Court was inaugurated.
The Video Conferencing Room has been equipped with a state-of-the-art Studio-based VC System enabling high-profile video conferencing sessions with multi-point connectivity for the Judicial Officers of Tripura posted in the District Judiciary were connected via video conferencing from their respective stations.
Another important matter that newsletter contains is that “Virtual Court” for online settlement of cases relating to e-Challans was inaugurated at High Court of Calcutta. Virtual courts will cover the jurisdictions of Four Traffic Guards namely, (1) Headquarter Traffic Guard, (2) South Traffic Guard (3) Howrah Bridge Traffic Guard, and (4) Jorabagan Traffic Guards under the Commissionerate of Police, Kolkata.
A Standard Operating Procedure has been uploaded. Citizens can access the Virtual Courts portal and settle their cases online.
Another achievement that newsletter talks about is a Virtual e-Sewa Kendra which is live from the Patna High Court Website.
The virtual e- Sewa Kendra includes information about Case Status, Cause List, Judgements & Orders, E-Filing, Android Application, E-Court Fee, Online Display Board, E-Pass, etc., under a single window.
Other important matters that were discussed in news letter included e-Committee Outreach Programme which was held For Judicial Officers At Kaimur And Rohtas Judgeship.
Also,it talked of eCommittee Computer Skill Enhancement Programme For Judicial Officers which was Conducted by Chhattisgarh Judicial Academy. Training programme was also held for NIC Coordinators & Staff of District Judiciary Conducted by Chhattisgarh Judicial Academy.
Another important news that was carried is that Rajasthan High Court Rules for Video Conferencing for Courts 2020 were published in Rajasthan Gazette on 30 July 2021 which have been made applicable to the proceedings of the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan and all District Judiciary of the Rajasthan w.e.f. 2 August 2021.
Dedicated VC Hardware has been installed in Rajasthan High Court. 1292 District Judiciary are equipped with VC hardware, dedicated internet connectivity and Zoom VC Application Software.
VC Remote Points have been set up at 36 Court Complexes at every District Headquarters for the recording of evidence or joining the court proceedings in any court of the State.
As a step forward, VC Remote Point at Government Secretariat has been established and notified to facilitate Administrative Officers of the Government of Rajasthan for recording their evidence virtually in the Courts in accordance with the Rules 2.
High Court Of Kerala has Introduced Paperless Mode for Bail and Income Tax Matters. Also important to note is that Advocates can now raise handover memos from their dashboards.
Once the order is uploaded, the section assistants of concerned seats can approve the handover request and the advocates will be able to download the orders with the organization’s signature as per the news letter.
e-Committee Outreach Programme For Technical Staff was also conducted by the Kerala State Judicial Academy,, Madhya Pradesh Judicial Academy Meghalaya State Judicial Academy and Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy which included training on Hardware and Software maintenance, data replication and other topics related to Hardware and Software.
In the newsletter of September 2022, it is mentioned that Help Desk Counters For District Court Complexes were implemented by High Court of Madras.
Another important news mentioned was that an online platform that displays the fund allocation by the states of Punjab, Haryana, and UT Chandigarh (as per the 14th Finance Commission) (Annexure-E) was rolled out.
Earlier, the Monitoring Cell of this Court provided the consolidated information on allocated/utilized funds for the States of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh.