'We Must Reach Out To Lawyers Without Internet Facilities' : CJI DY Chandrachud Says E-Seva Kendras Will Be Set Up In All Courts

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud stated in court today that the E-Committee of the Supreme Court of India has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Common Service Centre Corporation (CSCC) under the government of India. The main objective of this collaboration is to make judiciary more accessible to the citizens at even the village or Taluka level. CJI Chandrachud also stated that as part of the mission to make judiciary more accessible through technology, the E-Committee was also setting up "E-Seva Kendras" in all all courts across the country.

The Common Service Centre is an initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India to provide various e-governance services . The CSC operates through a network of over 3 lakh centers spread across the country, covering even the remotest areas. 

The announcement came while the Supreme Court bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud was hearing a plea seeking to declare virtual hearings a fundamental right. 

While hearing the plea, S Prabhkaran, Vice President of the Bar Council of India, said that technological access is difficult in rural areas. To this, CJI replied : 

"Those lawyers who do not have internet facilities – we must reach out to them. We have to carry everyone along.  The answer is to make technology available to the grassroots. We must ensure that technology reaches to every taluka court in the country. That is why, as part of the mission of phase III of e-courts project, we are setting up E-seva Kendra in every court establishment. So if a lawyer does not have access to the internet, the lawyer can go to the E-Seva Kendra and get all the facilities which are available."

He then added–

"The e-committee has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Common Service Centre of Government of India. Now there is a Common Service Centre Corporation, under which common service centres are available down to every panchayats. We have entered into an MoU with the Common Service Centre Corporation so that all our services are available at the level of village. We must reach out."

During the matter, a counsel highlighted that there was a parliamentary committee report on the subject of e-courts. To this, CJI Chandrachud said–

"The Parliamentary committee came to the Supreme Court, we interacted with the members too. I must tell you, the Parliamentary committee was extremely receptive. I was a puisne judge of the court then. I made a presentation of almost 3 hours before the Parliamentary committee. This was the first time in the Parliamentary committee came to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Ramana, as he then was, attended the meeting with me. We had a very very detailed discussion. Parliamentary committee made a very strong report on the need for better funds for the judiciary. Now 7000 crores has been allocated to the judiciary. We are going to use them for the judiciary."

CJI also acknowledged that there is a technological divide in the country and that there are lawyers who face difficulties.