Delhi High Court
Shailendra Bhatnagar vs The Registrar General, High Court ... on 18 April, 2018
$~22
*IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ W.P.(C) 1756/2018
% Date of decision : 18th April, 2018
SHAILENDRA BHATNAGAR ..... Petitioner
Through : Petitioner in person.
versus
THE REGISTRAR GENERAL,
HIGH COURT OF DELHI & ANR ... Respondents
Through : Mr. Viraj R. Datar, Adv. for
R-1.
Mr. Satyakam, ASC, GNCTD
for R-2 with Mr. Abhilash
Malhotra, M.M. (CD), Nodal
Officer, Computer Website
Committee.
Ms. Maninder Acharya, ASG
with Mr. Jasmeet Singh, CGSC
for NIC along with Mr. R.K.
Kaul, Scientist 'F', NIC.
CORAM:
HON'BLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.HARI SHANKAR
JUDGMENT (ORAL)
GITA MITTAL, ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE
1. This writ petitioner submits that he has made applications to the
authorities highlighting various issues such as the official website of
Delhi District Courts having a major issue of not uploading the
necessary ongoing court information i.e. cause list; daily orders; case
status, judgments, and information about judges being on
leave/training etc.
2. The writ petitioner submits that this information has to be
gathered from lawyers, litigants and colleagues of various courts.
3. It is further complained that information regarding various
courts orders, forms and amendments etc. also are not frequently
uploaded in the authorized website of Delhi District Courts, which
creates a major problem for the day to day working of advocates and
relevant public.
4. The petitioner has thereafter sought issuance of a writ of
mandamus directing the 'concerned department' to resolve the issues
complained of by the petitioner. Even though this writ petition is
hopelessly vague, we had issued notice to the respondents as we are
concerned with the computer programmes of the courts and are of the
view that all necessary information should be easily accessible to the
lawyers and the litigants.
5. To have an in depth insight into the real position, we have
ourselves scrutinized the website of the Delhi District Courts, in our
court room using a screen and a projector in the presence of the
petitioner and all counsels.
6. Undoubtedly, the issues relating to accessibility of information
on the website involves interplay of technology and humans. There
would certainly be hiccups but such difficulties do not render the
entire system inefficient and inoperable.
7. Pursuant to directions made by us, Mr. Abhilash Malhotra,
Metropolitan Magistrate, who is a member of the Centralized
Computerization Committee as well as Website Committee of the Tis
Hazari Courts, is present. We had also requested the appearance of an
officer from the National Informatics Centre (NIC), which is
facilitating the development of the software in the courts as well as
responsible for maintenance of its websites and the National Judicial
Data Grid.
8. In pursuance to our order, Mr. R.K. Kaul, Scientist 'F' with the
National Informatics Centre is present. These officers have explained
us the extensive steps which have been taken as also which are
underway to ensure an efficient operation of the National Judicial Data
Grid at all levels.
9. We are informed that the latest hardware has been purchased
and every possible effort is being made to resolve any issues which
may be existing or which may arise so far as accessibility and
maintenance of the grid is concerned.
10. We are informed by Mr. R.K. Kaul that so far as the National
Judicial Data Grid is concerned, it has been noticed that it has
approximately 10 lakhs hits on a daily basis.
11. We also find that along with the status report dated 8th March,
2018, which has been placed on behalf of the District & Sessions
Judge (Headquarters), Minutes of a Meeting dated 23rd February, 2018
of the Centralized Computerization Committee have been placed. It
appears that this Committee has taken a decision to associate the
petitioner as an invitee member of the Committee so that his inputs
could be taken by the Committee which can be then implemented.
Needless to say, this would, if necessary, enable the petitioner to assist
the computerization projects of the courts and also to facilitate all
improvements as may be necessary.
12. In view of the above, it appears that all concerned authorities
are extremely vigilant about the imperative needs to ensure an
effective and responsive interface so that everyone could have access
to the court website and retrieve information therefrom.
13. In view of the above, this writ petition need not detain us any
further and is therefore, disposed of.
ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE
C.HARI SHANKAR, J
APRIL 18, 2018
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