COVID-19: E-filing is first step towards effective e-court system: CJI

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 16

As the Supreme Court and high courts have been functioning via video-conferencing during the COVID-19 lockdown, Chief Justice of India SA Bobde has underlined the importance of e-filing, saying it was the first step towards an effective e-court.

“E-filing seems to be the first step in the entire process of e-courts…through this e-filing module, the Registry will be brought into the chambers of advocates,” the CJI said on Friday evening at a webinar, in which an online demo of the proposed e-filing module was conducted.

Developed by a team of 11 members in the past four months, the e-filing module will enable 24/7 filing of petitions in paperless mode.

Noting that COVID-19 has affected the daily lives of everyone, Supreme Court e-committee Chairman Justice DY Chandrachud called for robust and calibrated institutional responses to deal with the problems created by the pandemic.

“In significant ways, what we do today will define the future. Our responses must deal with the present, but the footprints of the pandemic will redefine how we function tomorrow in ways which may not readily apparent today,” Justice Chandrachud said.

The e-filing module being implemented represented the collaborative efforts between the Bar, the Bench and the Registry, he said.

Noting that many of the lawyers didn’t have access to technology, Justice Chandrachud said the solutions proposed must take this into account.

He said the e-committee has initiated setting up ‘e-seva kendras’ at high courts and district courts for this purpose as it aimed to achieve efficiency, transparency and access to every user of justice service.