The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud on Saturday said that the Supreme Court of India is not the Supreme Court of Tilak Marg, it is for India, of India. He said that likewise, each High Court is not only the HC for the metropolitan capital of the state. The CJI was speaking at the Inauguration of Neutral Citation for the Indian Judiciary and the National Conference on Digitization, Paperless Courts and e-Initiatives organised by the High Court of Orissa.
He noted that setting up of the virtual courts has enabled Orissa HC to be representative of the entire state. The CJI said, “My experience in SC is that when we have lawyers across India, the only thing they lack may be the swagger of those who regularly appear in the SC. But they certainly have confidence, knowledge and close connection with the litigants who trust them.”
Speaking over the digital advancements being made in the field of courts in India, Chandrachud said, “The digital infrastructure we intend to create is firstly paperless courts. Secondly, virtual courts...Today most HCs are doing live streaming on YouTube.”
“Clips of the Patna HC judge asking an IAS officer why he is not appropriately dressed or Gujarat HC judge asking a lawyer why she is not prepared with her case are going around. A lot of funny stuff is going on in YouTube which we need to control, because this is serious stuff. What happens in the court is extremely serious stuff. Live streaming that we are doing has a flip side. We, as judges, need to be trained because every word that we say in the court is up on the public realm,” the CJI noted.
On the serious issue of cyber security, the CJI said, “On cyber security, How do we ensure data security and data privacy? I have constituted a committee. Naturally, this committee is taking time. because that is the most difficult part of our work...We are in the process of evolving a national model for data security and privacy and the moment that is done I think we would have achieved a major step.”
Talking in detail about the digital initiatives taken by the Indian judiciary system, Chandrachud said, “Our purpose in pitch-forthing technology is not to place it away from citizens but to reach out to the common citizens of the country. The vision of e-courts project is to provide affordable, cost-effective, transparent and accountable justice delivery system.”
“If you look at outlay for Phase 3, which is going to be between 2023-27, the total outlay we have envisaged is 7210 Crores. Compare it with outlays for Phase I and Phase II which was just a fraction of Phase III. The digital infrastructure we intend to create is firstly paperless courts. Secondly, virtual courts - Delhi has been leading in virtual courts, particularly in the area of traffic challans,” he added as quoted by Live Law.
CJI Chandrachud further said, “Next important area is technological advancements which phase 3 envisages, this will refer to software developments, the use of AI, blockchain, and digital accessibility.”
He also talked about the recently launched LGBTQ handbook and said, “We are almost on the anvil of launching a legal glossary on gender-inappropriate terms. If you read a judgment on 376, I am sure all of you have come across phrases that the "victim was ravished by the appellant" or phrases such as "she was a concubine" or in a bail order in an NDPS that "the negro was arrested with cocaine"... The glossary would not belittle our judiciary but in the times we are moving ahead we pay more attention to language as much as to the substance.”
Speaking over his visits to Odisha he said that he has become a constant visitor to Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack.” I think the reason for my coming here frequently is the dynamic engagement of Justice Muraleedhar with technology and e-courts project to ensure that access to justice devolves to common citizens,” he added.
The Inaugural Ceremony was held at the Odisha Judicial Academy and was also attended by Justice Rajesh Bindal, Judge, Supreme Court of India, Justice S. Muralidhar, Chief Justice of Orissa High Court among others.