Technology brought transparency to justice deliverance: Chief Justice

Jammu, May 31: Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, Justice N Kotiswar Singh Friday said technology had brought transparency to the justice delivery system.

Virtually inaugurating a two-day e-Courts Phase-III Regional Cluster Workshop for North Zone, High Courts, which is being held at J&K Judicial Academy, Srinagar, Chief Justice Singh expressed happiness that the fear developed due to intervention of technology was overcome and the justice delivery system had become not only convenient but also transparent and accessible to the common masses with the introduction of Case Information System, Digitisation, e-filing, and e-payment.

In his inaugural address, the Chief Justice while embarking on the journey of the e-courts project deliberated as to how it helped streamline the management and transition of various facets of judicial dispensation by overcoming various challenges encountered during the journey.

Highlighting the advantages of the technology, the Chief Justice emphasised that his addressing the participants in Friday’s workshop seamlessly through virtual mode and joining of Joint Secretary, Department of Justice, Government of India, was made possible only because of technological advancement made in the judicial infrastructure.

The Chief Justice emphasised that the Phase-III of the e-courts project was going to transform the overall Indian judicial scenario in the coming days in incredible ways.

In his special address, Member IT Committee, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, Justice Sanjay Dhar shared the historical perspective of the development of the e-courts project and expressed hope that its Phase-III would prove to be a boon in the justice delivery system.

He lauded the contribution of former Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, Justice Badar Durez Ahmad for providing impetus to the e-courts initiatives both in the High Court and district judiciary of J&K.

Justice Dhar urged the delegates to derive maximum advantage out of the present workshop.

Joint Secretary, Department of Justice, Government of India, P P Pandey virtually addressed the inaugural session from New Delhi and complimented all the stakeholders for timely achieving the targets of the e-courts project.

He also expressed optimism by stating that the Phase-III of the e-courts project would bring the Indian judicial system far ahead in the world as far as the use of technology was concerned.

He assured full support of the Department of Justice, Government of India, in the execution of the project.

Addressing the participants, Member (Human Resources) e-Committee, Supreme Court of India, Arulmozhi Selvi said that it was the initiative of the Chief Justice of India, to organise such workshops in different zones of the country so that the developments in technology and the needs of the project are brought to the doorstep of the actual stakeholders.

The delegates from the High Courts of Delhi, Uttrakhand, Rajasthan, and Allahabad along with the High Court of J&K and Ladakh are participating in the workshop being presided over by the members of e-Committee, Supreme Court of India and the NIC, Pune team.

The Chief Justice inaugurated the workshop virtually from the Jammu wing of the High Court in the presence of Justice Atul Sreedharan, Chairperson IT, Committee, Justice Rajnesh Oswal, Justice Sanjay Dhar and Justice Rahul Bharti, Members, IT Committee, High Court of J&K and Ladakh.

Justice Sanjay Dhar was present on the occasion while other members of the IT Committee along with Justice Vinod Chatterjee Koul, Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, Justice Rajesh Sekhri, and Justice Muhammad Yousuf Wani joined the event virtually from the Jammu wing of the High Court.

Earlier, Director J&K Judicial Academy, Y P Bourney presented a formal welcome address.

The proceedings of the event were conducted by Registrar Computers (IT)-cum-Central Project Coordinator, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, Anoop Kumar Sharma who also presented a formal vote of thanks.

Others who were present on the occasion included Advocate General, D C Raina; Deputy Solicitor General, India, Tahir Shamsi; Registrar General, Shahzad Azeem; Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, Jawad Ahmad; Registrar Vigilance, Tasleem Arief; Registrar Rules, Rajendra Sapru; Registrar Judicial (Jammu), Sandeep Kour; Secretary, High Court Legal Services Committee, Prem Sagar; Joint Registrar (Judicial), Jammu, Rajni Sharma; and Joint Registrar (Judicial), Srinagar, Abdul Bari.