Today, On 15th May, Chief Justice of India emphasized the need for technology integration in the judiciary at the J20 summit, highlighting the Supreme Court’s handling of over 7.5 lakh cases through video conferencing. Emphasizing the efficiency and accessibility afforded by virtual proceedings, the CJI highlights the importance of leveraging technology to streamline legal processes.
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud remarked that on Wednesday, the Supreme Court conducted hearings for over 7,50,000 cases via video-conferencing, with an additional 1,50,000 cases filed online. He emphasized that technology reshaped the dynamics between law enforcement agencies, including the judiciary.
Speaking at the J20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro on ‘Digital transformation and leveraging technology to improve judicial efficiency,’ the Chief Justice of India highlighted India’s advancements, stating,
“Virtual hearings have democratized accessibility to the Supreme Court.”
J20, a summit gathering heads of supreme or constitutional courts from G20 member states, is being hosted by the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court during Brazil’s G20 Presidency this year.
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The Chief Justice of India emphasized that the Indian Supreme Court’s Case Management System built using Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) and stands as “the largest case management system globally.”
Justice Chandrachud also highlighted the continuation of hybrid hearings in Indian courts post pandemic, noting that virtual hearings have broadened access, particularly for individuals facing physical constraints in appearing before the courts.
He stated,
“Over 7,50,000 cases have been conducted via video-conferencing. Notably, important constitutional cases in the Supreme Court are live-streamed on its YouTube channel, thus making constitutional deliberations accessible to all citizens from their homes.” He further added, “Today, the Supreme Court of India operates almost entirely without paper, relying on digitized and optical character recognition enabled paper books.”
Chandrachud remarked on how technology has transformed the relationship between individuals and the legal system, noting,
“Judges, as perhaps the only public officials positioned on an elevated platform, who administer punishment for contempt and make significant decisions impacting the lives of others behind closed doors, do so without concerns of electoral consequences.”
The Chief Justice mentioned that the Supreme Court employs SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software) to translate judgments into 16 regional languages.
CJI stated,
“To date, more than 36,000 cases have been translated. Additionally, important constitutional cases are live-streamed and recorded on YouTube, offering comprehensive context.”
He further explained,
“Convenient access to Supreme Court judgments is facilitated through Digital SCR (Supreme Court Records), where over 30,000 past judgments are freely available.”
Highlighting the accountability of judges, Chandrachud remarked,
“Judges are not akin to princes or sovereigns exempt from the obligation of transparency.”
He emphasized that the judiciary functions as a service provider and facilitator of societies that uphold rights. Chandrachud identified two key areas where digitization and technology can enhance judicial processes. optimizing pre-decision procedures and implementing post-decision measures to enhance accessibility and interaction with rulings.
He noted,
“India’s venture into information technology in the judiciary began in 2007 with the e-Courts project, aimed at nationwide enhancement of judicial efficiency and citizen-centric justice delivery services.”
Chandrachud further remarked,
“The experience of engaging with courts at the initial stage has undergone a complete transformation.”
He remarked,
“We now have the convenience of filing cases with just a click through our e-filing platform. Over 1,50,000 cases have been filed electronically at the Supreme Court alone, with a consistent increase in the proportion of e-filings compared to physical ones,”
The Chief Justice highlighted the Supreme Court’s ability to monitor judicial data nationwide in real-time through the National Judicial Data Grid and iJuris platforms for sharing information within the district-level judiciary.
Regarding the utilization of technology for “post-decisional measures,” he emphasized the importance of promptly uploading decisions onto court websites once they rendered, allowing parties to implement them or seek further recourse.
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Addressing concerns about ‘disinformation’ surrounding judicial hearings, the CJI expressed,
“We firmly believe that transparency is the best defence against misinformation, and that accurate and easily accessible information serves as an antidote to disinformation.”
Chandrachud noted,
“In India, it’s not uncommon for judges to spar with lawyers and take on the role of devil’s advocate to elicit their strongest arguments. Unfortunately, this dynamic is occasionally misconstrued as the bench’s stance, leading to misleading clips circulating online,”
He continued,
“Thankfully, we benefit from a strong network of legal journalists who provide live coverage of proceedings, aiding in debunking misinformation.”
Addressing the digital gap and the imbalance in representation between disputing parties and areas with limited connectivity, the Chief Justice remarked,
“These challenges, termed as ‘bottlenecks’, require our attention. When discussing judicial efficiency, we must consider more than just the judge’s effectiveness and contemplate a comprehensive judicial system. Efficiency is not solely about results but also about ensuring equitable processes that guarantee a fair and impartial hearing.”