The Supreme Court has returned to its traditional setup by removing glass panels, restoring the classic logo, and bringing back the old digiSCR interface with captcha, sparking mixed reactions from users over the sudden digital rollback.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has reverted to the older web interface and captcha system on its digital records portal, digiSCR.
This decision has received mixed responses from legal professionals and regular users who had grown accustomed to the more user-friendly format.
Many users, particularly those who frequently download judgments and orders, have noticed this change.
The Supreme Court’s website has reintroduced the previous interface, which requires captcha for document downloads. While the earlier version was viewed as simpler and more efficient by numerous users, the abrupt return to the old system has raised concerns about the future of digital access to court records.
Also, The Supreme Court of India reverted to its traditional setup by removing the glass panels installed in its corridors and restoring its original emblem on the official website. This decision was made under the leadership of the current Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice B.R. Gavai, shortly after he took office.
The glass panels were initially added during the tenure of former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud to facilitate centralized air conditioning within the Court premises, but this move faced criticism from the legal community.
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The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) said,
“The space in the corridors has reduced drastically, making it difficult for members of the Bar, registered clerks, interns and litigants to move around, especially during the peak hours. This has led to delays in Court proceedings and increased frustration among all the stakeholders in the justice delivery process,”
They also pointed out the lack of consultation with the Bar before the installation of the panels and expressed concerns about diminished access to fresh air and sunlight.
After CJI D.Y. Chandrachud’s retirement, the Association requested the incoming CJI, Sanjiv Khanna, to remove the panels, but no immediate action was taken. Changes were only initiated under CJI B.R. Gavai.
During the farewell function for Justice A.S. Oka on May 23, CJI Gavai assured that when advocates returned after the summer vacations, they would see the Supreme Court in its “original avatar.” Along with the removal of the glass panels, the associated air conditioning system was also dismantled.
CJI B.R. Gavai,
“You will find the Supreme Court back in its original form after the holidays,”
In addition to these physical changes, the Supreme Court has restored its original logo on the official website. The blue-themed insignia introduced during the Court’s 75th anniversary under former CJI Chandrachud has been replaced. That emblem featured the Supreme Court building, Ashoka Chakra, and the Constitution of India, along with the Court’s motto “Yato Dharmastato Jayah.”
The commemorative logo and a new Supreme Court flag were unveiled by President Droupadi Murmu in September 2024, designed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi.
However, this change met with opposition from the legal community. In October 2024, the Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association passed a resolution objecting to the “unilateral” decision to modify the emblem.
Resolution by Supreme Court Bar Association Executive Committee,
“We are equal stakeholders in the administration of justice but these changes when proposed, were never brought to our attention. We are totally clueless on the rationale behind these changes,”
It is noteworthy that the Court’s cause lists continue to use the newer logo.