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CJI lays stone of ₹938-crore J&K, Ladakh HC complex at Raika
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) , Dr DY Chandrachud was addressing a gathering of judges of the Supreme Court, J&K and Ladakh HC, lawyers and top officials from the two union territories here after laying foundation stone of ₹938 crore new high court complex at Raika,
The Chief Justice of India, Dr DY Chandrachud on Wednesday stressed upon use of technology in dispensing justice to the people and informed that the “Indian judiciary has switched over to document management system (DMS) and national services and tracking of electronic processes (NSTEP) from today”.
Addressing a gathering of judges of the Supreme Court, J&K and Ladakh high court, lawyers and top officials from the two union territories here after laying foundation stone of ₹938 crore new high court complex at Raika, the chief justice impressed upon use of technology for delivering justice to the masses.
“The situation and challenges for the people of J&K and Ladakh are altogether different and for their resolution dedication, new innovations and determination are needed. Due to geographical conditions, people often do not get justice,” he said.
The Chief Justice cited hilly terrain, harsh weather conditions, landslides, snowfall and livelihood that keep people away from courts.
“In Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh we have less cities, but rural areas are more, which are in jungles and in hills that makes it very difficult for the people to reach courts,” he said adding “due to harsh weather conditions, people can’t reach courts for justice and legal services.”
“Courts remaining closed during winters also affects judicial process and people not reaching the courts also keep many issues out of the purview of law, which is a cause of concern,” he said.
He, however, said that a technical change has come now in the Indian judiciary.
“Once the use of technology was not thought of but now technology is being used to run judicial system and to bring further improvement in it,” he said.
“We are today starting document management system (DMS) and national services and tracking of electronic processes. Via these technological interventions we will be able to bring improvement in the judicial system,” said the CJI.
“With DMS all legal documents will be kept in order and safely at a central place and if any document has to be accessed, it can be done easily. It will also curtail paper usage while notices and summons will be tracked easily,” he said.
The chief justice felt that the technology can be used deliver justice to the people, who cannot reach courts due to factors like hilly terrain and harsh weather conditions.
He recalled how the judiciary in India adopted technology during the past three years when Covid pandemic struck the country in 2020.
“Millions of the people could not think of reaching courts for justice. Here technology becomes imperative for us. During Covid lockdown, many institutions were closed but for me it was very important to ensure how courts could be run via technology so that people doesn’t think that judicial system has stopped,” he said.
He applauded judges, lawyers and court staff that ran online courts for dispensing justice.
Dr Chandrachud also reiterated the stand of judiciary that no case was big or small for it and the Supreme Court looked at each case with equal consideration.
He, however, expressed his concern over less participation of females in the judicial system.
“Out of 124 judges till date in J&K High Court, only two had been females. Similarly, few females across India are part of the legal system,” he said and hoped that participation of the fair gender would increase.
He also informed that all new case will come up for automatic listing from July.
He further said that his doors were always open for all for dispensation of justice.
Earlier, CJI along with J&K LG Manoj Sinha, Ladakh LG Brig (retd) BD Mishra, judges of the Supreme Court and chief justice of J&K and Ladakh High Court N Kotiswar Singh laid the foundation stone of the new complex at Raika forest area of Jammu.
The new complex will have 35 courtrooms and will also have chambers for 1000 lawyers with space for expansion in future.
