Now, get an online pass to enter Supreme Court premises

“All passes are generated online. So you will not have to stand in a queue in the mornings,” thereby eliminating the need for physical entry passes, he said. “This is a facility being made available from this morning,” CJI Chandrachud added.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said this was a major concern given that every day there is a long line before the counter in the Supreme Court premises issuing physical entry passes.

Agreeing, the CJI said, “Now, one can apply for a pass the previous evening or whenever you want by logging in for that particular day… Somebody who wants to meet somebody in the Registry will also get a pass generated. And the moment the person comes to the security counter, the entire details of the pass are reflected for the CISF personnel who are guarding the establishment.”

“We have called it SuSwagatam… Su stands for Supreme Court,” the CJI pointed out.

CJI Chandrachud then read out a statement on the new scheme. SuSwagatam is a web-based and mobile-friendly application that allows users to register themselves online and request e-passes for various purposes such as attending court hearings, meeting advocates or visiting officers or departments or the press lounge, he said.

“Users can choose from different validity periods such as daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly depending on their needs and police clearance certificates. The portal also provides role-based secure login for different types of users such as advocates, litigants, law clerks, contractual staff, third-party agencies and visitors,” CJI Chandrachud added.

Users can upload their proof of identity and capture their live photos during the registration process. They can also receive broadcast messages for important announcements or special arrangements. The ‘ePasses’ are delivered to users through email and the SuSwagatam portal, the CJI said. Users can scan the QR code at the entry and exit gates of the court premises. The portal also generates statistics on the number of ‘ePasses’ issued and used, he added.

“The SuSwagatam portal was used as a pilot project since July 25, 2023, and has received positive feedback from the users. As of August 9, 2023, more than 10,000 ePasses have been issued through the portal as a pilot,” CJI Chandrachud said, adding that the Supreme Court of India hoped that the portal would enhance the convenience and efficiency of court operations and services.

The CJI also said that there is a video tutorial on how to go about generating the ‘ePass’ and that lawyers who need help registering can approach the eSewa Kendra.

Welcoming the move, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, “The entire nation will be grateful.”

“Before we got access cards, we used to come at 9 am to stand in the queue so that by 10.30 am, we would get the pass and enter,” Mehta said, adding that “this was some 12-13 years back”. The situation, he said, continues to this day.