The bench, which included CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra, advised the petitioner to contact the Department of Justice, clarifying that the NJDG focuses on district courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court, and does not encompass tribunals.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court dismissed a petition on Friday (28th Sept)requesting a separate National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) specifically for tribunals in India.
A bench led by the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud stated, “We have already dismissed a similar writ.” This remark referenced an earlier petition that sought to integrate tribunals into the e-courts project through the NJDG.
The bench, which included CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra, advised the petitioner to contact the Department of Justice, clarifying that the NJDG focuses on district courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court, and does not encompass tribunals.
The petitioner argued that quasi-judicial bodies such as the Armed Forces Tribunal and the National Green Tribunal should be included in the NJDG. However, the court noted that an allocation of INR 7,000 crore was made for courts under the NJDG, specifically excluding tribunals. The bench added that incorporating tribunals would redirect funding from courts to them.
The court emphasized that the NJDG is funded and monitored by the Department of Justice within the Law Ministry, allowing the petitioner to approach the central government regarding the inclusion of tribunals.
It’s worth mentioning that last year, the Supreme Court launched the National Judicial Data Grid portal as a key initiative of the e-Courts project. The NJDG portal serves as a national database for tracking cases that are initiated, pending, and resolved in courts throughout the country.
Case Title: KISHAN CHAND JAIN vs UNION OF INDIA
