Digital info kiosk goes offline at District Courts

Ishrat S Banwait

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 12

Two months after a digital info kiosk was installed at the district courts, it has gone offline. Meant to strengthen the e-courts initiative and ease of access to litigants, the e- kiosk is lying switched off since last week. The Internet-enabled touch screen kiosk meant that anyone could view orders, case status and cause list.

However, no one seems to know whether the machine has been switched off or is out of order. Advocates, litigants and court staff informed that they had not seen the machine working since the previous week. 

In September this year, each court got an LED screen installed on its premises. The work was completed in a few days and at a quick pace. They were meant for video conferencing in courts on the directions of the Supreme Court. However, nor was any other equipment installed neither was even a power connection given to them.

Currently, one room on the ground floor has video conferencing facility and a court has to be shifted there in case video conferencing facility is to be availed. The service is meant to facilitate recording of statements of witnesses without them being physically present in the court.