Today, the e-filing committee of the Supreme Court under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud conducted a Webinar on e-filing of cases in Supreme Court. This e-filing module is designed and introduced by collective and collaborative actions and suggestions of the e-filing committee, Supreme Court Registry and the members of the Bar and Bench.
The Webinar witnessed the presence of Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India, Shri Sharad A. Bobde, Hon’ble Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud (Chairmanship, e-filing committee of the Supreme Court), Judges of the SC, Judges of High Courts, President of SC Bar Association, members of bar and media.
The Webinar commenced with a brief address by Hon’ble Justice Chandrachud, who delineated the course of business or proceeding of the webinar and quickly laid down the purpose of the same. The course of proceeding of the webinar was as follows; welcome address by ShriSanjeev S. Kalgaonkar, Secretary General, SC; Shri Dushyant Dave, President of SC Bar Association; Hon’ble Justice Chandrachud, presidential address by Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India S.A Bobde, followed by a demo of the ‘e-filing module.’
Shri Sanjeev S. Kalgaonkar and Shri Dushyant Dave, in their addresses briefly mentioned that necessity is the breeding ground of innovations and the Hon’ble Apex Court, by making virtual courts a reality, has furthered the cause of justice. They highlighted how a collaborative action of the Bar and Bench, has enable the edifice of Justice running even during the time of a pandemic. These welcome addresses were followed by an address by Hon’ble Justice Dr. Chandrachud. Lordship in his addressed identified the problem at hand, the steps taken by the Hon’ble Apex Court in response to this unenforceable challenge and the need for having an inclusive and sustainable justice delivery institution.
He began by saying that, aided by the Supreme Court Registry, the design and formation of this e-filing module represents a collaborative exercise between the bar and bench. Lordship shed light on the changes that this pandemic has initiated in the Apex Court. He mentioned COVID- 19 has “has impacted life that we were accustomed to and has called for robust and calibrated institutional responses in significant ways (…), our present action will determine the future.” He very rightly mentioned that the footprints of this pandemic will the way we function in the future.
While mentioning the response taken by the Supreme Court to continue functioning during this Pandemic, Justice Chandrachud informed the participants and the guest of the Webinar that after receiving suggestions from the members of the Bar and Bench, the SC took the initiative of starting ‘e-filing Kandras’ in every High Court and District Court keeping in mind the disparities in resources and income distribution between the stakeholders of the Judicial system. Lordship mentioned that this pilot project has already been brought into reality. He further congratulated the Supreme Court for arising to the need of the time and shifting to virtual courts. He mentioned that; “India has over 17000 courts and the response of Bar and Bench of the Supreme Court as an institution has shaped action across the nation.” He also talked about the speedy disposal of cases in various High Courts using virtual hearings.
Justice Chandrachud mentioned the following four features of the e-filing module; (a) the filing facility is available 24/ 27 irrespective of the working hours of the Supreme Court; (b) online communication of defects and scrutiny of filed matters; (c) facility of making e-payment of court fees; and (d) responding to the suggestion of advocates, the introduction of digital signature, with a view of preserving privacy and safety of the bar members. He also mentioned that the e-filing module has facilitated emergence of a dashboard which will have personalized record of cases filed by AOR and cases in which they appear. Hon’ble Justice also talked about their constant endeavor in making SC; an institution which represents the need of all the stakeholders. He said that; “the moto of using technology is to ensure efficiency, transparency and access to every user justicing service”
He further mentioned that “we are conscious of the fact that not all lawyers have access to technology and therefore, our solution must factor this problem to ensure that we continue to be an inclusive institution and reach out to those who do not have technology including the junior members of the bar.” Lordship very rightly mentioned that “we must provide sustainable digitization and transformational change in re-conceptualizing interaction between citizens, lawyers, judiciary and environment.” At the end of his address he acknowledged and thanked the efforts of the members of Supreme Court registry and e-filing committee which worked tirelessly to enable this system and he also submitted, for consideration, of the stakeholders of SC the proposition that “we must enhance TEST Values, which are, TRUST, EMPATHY, SUSTAIBNABLITY, TRANSPARENCY."
Justice Chandrachud handed over the forum to Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India, Shri Sharad Bobde, for his presidential address. The Hon’ble Chief Justice began his address by highlighting how this Pandemic created by the Coronavirus, made us to rethink our working process. He reiterated the design, development and contributions made the members of the Apex court in making virtual courts a reality. He also elaborated on the feature of the module, which Justice Chandrachud also mentioned.
He categorically stated that now there is no looking back. All matters cannot be dispensed by virtual courts, but e-filing is the first step towards having an institutional setup to enable functioning of “rule of law irrespective of the pandemic.” His address was followed by a demo of the e-filing module.
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