Supreme Court Today (April 25th) announces the integration of its IT Services with WhatsApp. Now AORs and members of the bar will receive automatic updates on electronic filings, orders & cause lists on their phones. CJI Chandrachud said “this small initiative will have a bang impact.”
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India is embracing technological integration by launching a novel initiative that incorporates WhatsApp messaging services into its communication strategies, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud announced. This move aims to streamline updates regarding court cases directly to Advocates on Record and Parties in Person, marking a significant leap towards enhancing judicial transparency and accessibility.
Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized the profound implications of this integration. He stated,
“In the 75th year of its existence, the Supreme Court of India launches a small initiative. It has the potential to have a big-bang impact. WhatsApp messenger has been a ubiquitous service in our daily lives and has taken a role of a powerful communication tool. To strengthen the right to access to Justice and enhance transparency in the judicial system, the Supreme Court announces integration of WhatsApp messaging services with its IT services.”
The services provided through this integration include automated updates on electronic filing, cause lists, as well as orders and judgments. These notifications will be delivered promptly upon the successful filing of cases, including any objections noted by the registry.
“This small initiative will have a ‘BANG’ impact.”
-CJI remarked
Additionally, all members of the bar will receive updates about published cause lists, and the content of orders and judgments available on the Supreme Court’s website will be communicated via WhatsApp.
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To ensure privacy and security, the Supreme Court’s official WhatsApp number, which is 876 876 76, will only support one-way communication, ensuring that recipients cannot respond directly through this channel.
“All members of bar will get causelists as and when published, on their phones”
-CJI
Reflecting on the environmental benefits of this digital shift, Chief Justice Chandrachud remarked,
“This facility and service will bring in a significant change in our daily work habits. It will go a long way in saving paper and our planet Earth.”
This statement highlights the dual benefits of the initiative: improving operational efficiency and contributing to environmental conservation.
The announcement was made by the CJI before a nine-judge bench headed by him commenced the hearing on a vexed legal question arising from the petitions whether private properties can be considered “material resources of the community” under Article 39(b) of the Constitution, which is a part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
“In the 75th year, the Supreme Court launches an initiative to strengthen access to justice by integration of WhatsApp messages with the IT services of the Supreme Court,”
-the CJI said.
Now, the advocates will receive automated messages about filing the cases, he said, adding that the members of the bar will also get the cause lists, as and when they are published, on mobile phones.
A cause list features the cases to be heard by a court on a given day.
“This is another revolutionary step…,”
-Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said
The top court under the leadership of CJI Chandrachud has been taking steps to digitise the functioning of the judiciary.
He said the Centre has sanctioned Rs 7,000 crore for the e-court project.
The solicitor general shared the views of the central government and said it was committed to the digitisation of the judiciary to enhance the access for common litigants and lawyer
The integration of WhatsApp into the Supreme Court’s communication framework is not just a technological upgrade but a pivotal enhancement in judicial accessibility and efficiency.
It represents a significant step forward in modernizing India’s judicial processes and underscores the judiciary’s commitment to embracing digital solutions to improve service delivery and court transparency.
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