At the virtual launch of two IT projects of the Delhi High Court Friday, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud suggested that e-seva kendras may be set up on jail premises so those lodged therein can avail services in terms of court orders, case listings and even live streaming of cases. The CJI inaugurated two projects — “Digital Courts for Contested Traffic Challans” and “Bail Orders Sharing Module on e-Prison Platform”. The event was attended by Chief Justice of Delhi HC Satish Chandra Sharma, as well as the chairperson of the HC's Information Technology (IT) Committee Justice Rajiv Shakdher, member judges Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Sanjeev Narula, Justice Talwant Singh and Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav and other companion judges and senior members of the bar present virtually. As part of the first initiative, the digital traffic courts will adjudicate challans contested on virtual court and conduct proceedings online, including recording of evidence and hearing arguments. The second initiative will provide a platform for the HC and district courts to share digitally signed bail orders to inmates/undertrials lodged in any prison in the country. The CJI said the initiative on the bail orders sharing module was extremely significant because it directly impinges upon human liberty. He said that he had seen cases before the Supreme Court where orders for release of prisoners had not been complied with or where applications for premature release were pending in “far-flung areas of the country”. "These prisoners are marginalised to the core. By launching this initiative we are ensuring that our orders are communicated to jails but we are also monitoring compliance with our orders which are equally important. This initiative will ensure that we are able to monitor whether our orders have been complied with, what is the time lag between when a judge signs the order and when it is implemented in the jail from which the prisoner or undertrail is to be released," the CJI said. Noting the importance of taking this initiative across the country the CJI said, "I earnestly request the Chief Justice of Delhi HC and IT Committee to share these best practices elsewhere in the country so that other High Courts can follow this exemplar in their own jurisdictions." He also stressed the need for "setting up e-seva kendras" stating that the idea is to "reach out to citizens who do not have access to the internet and to bridge the internet divide". "I believe that every court complex in Delhi based on footfalls must have an adequate number of e-seva kendras where the basic facilities are provided and uniformly good facilities are there for accessing all services which we provide so none of our citizens and no member of the bar is left behind in the march of technology," the CJI said. He suggested that it would be innovative if e-seva kendras are set up in jail complexes so those who are lodged in jails can avail of the services provided such as orders, case listing and even live streaming of cases, which is going to be launched shortly across India. He said that while on his travels across the country, the uniform statement that he had heard was that the “live streaming of hearings of the SC has truly enabled the country at large to understand the seriousness with which work is rendered by our judiciary". Acknowledging the initiatives of the HC, the CJI also touched upon the initiatives taken by the apex court, including the e-SCR project, neutral citations as well as translation of judgments. While concluding he mentioned that the Union Government had been "extremely receptive in providing funds" for the third phase of e-courts project, and the challenge is now before the High Courts to ensure that the funds are productively deployed.
