Phase III Of E-Courts Project Will Profoundly Transform Indian Judicial System: J&K High Court Chief Justice

He further expressed happiness that the fear developed due to the intervention of technology was overcome and the Justice delivery system has become not only convenient but also transparent and accessible to the common masses through the introduction of Case Information System, Digitisation, E-filing, and E-payment etc.

The Chief Justice made these comments while virtually inaugurating a two-day e-Courts Phase III Regional Cluster Workshop for North Zone, High Court(s), which is being held at J&K Judicial Academy, Srinagar.

The delegates from the High Courts of Delhi, Uttrakhand, Rajasthan and Allahabad along with the High Court of J&K and Ladakh are participating in the said workshop which is being presided over by the Members of the e-Committee, Supreme Court of India and the NIC, Pune team, reads a press note issued to this effect.

The Chief Justice inaugurated the workshop virtually from the Jammu wing of the High Court, in the presence of Justices Mr Atul Sreedharan, Chairperson IT, Committee, Hon'ble Mr. Rajnesh Oswal, Mr. Justice Sanjay Dhar & Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rahul Bharti, Members, IT Committee, High Court of J & K and Ladakh.

Justice Sanjay Dhar graced the occasion with his physical presence at the venue itself, whereas other members of the IT Committee along with Justices Mr. Justice Vinod Chatterjee Koul, Mr. Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, Mr. Justice Rajesh Sekhri & Mr. Justice Muhammad Yousuf Wani, joined the event virtually from Jammu Wing of the High Court.

In his inaugural address, the Chief Justice while embarking on the journey of the e-Courts project deliberated as to how it helped in change management and transition of various facets of judicial dispensation by overcoming various challenges encountered during the journey.

While highlighting the advantages of the technology, Justice Kotiswar emphasized that his addressing the participants in today's workshop seamlessly through virtual mode and remote joining of the Joint Secretary, Department of Justice, Government of India was made possible only because of technological advancement made in the Judicial infrastructure.

In his address, Justice Sanjay Dhar, Member IT Committee, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, shared the historical perspective of the development of the e-courts project and expressed hope that the Phase III of the project will prove to be a boon in the justice delivery system.

He lauded the contribution of Justice Badar Durez Ahmad, former Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, for providing impetus to the e-Courts initiatives both in the High Court and District Judiciary of J&K. Justice Dhar urged the delegates to derive maximum advantage out of the present workshop.

The Joint Secretary, Department of Justice, Government of India Mr. P.P Pandey, virtually addressed the inaugural session from New Delhi and complimented all the stakeholders for timely achieving the targets of the e-Courts project. He also expressed his optimism by stating that phase III of the e-Courts project will bring the Indian Judicial system far ahead in the world so far as the use of technology is concerned.

He assured the full support of the Department of Justice, Government of India in the execution of the project.

Ms. Arulmozhi Selvi, Member (Human Resources) E-Committee, Supreme Court of India, addressing the participants, stated that it was the initiative of the Chief Justice of India, to organise such workshops in different zones of the Country so that the developments in technology and the needs of the Project are brought to the doorstep of the actual stakeholders.

Earlier Y.P. Bourney, Director, J&K Judicial Academy presented a formal welcome address and the event was also live-streamed on the YouTube channel of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh.

The other dignitaries and guests who graced the occasion include D.C.Raina, Advocate General, Tahir Shamsi, Deputy Solicitor General, India, Shahzad Azeem, Registrar General, Jawad Ahmad, PDJ, Srinagar, Tasleem Arief, Registrar Vigilance, Rajendra Sapru, Registrar Rules, Sandeep Kour, Registrar Judicial (Jammu), Prem Sagar, Secretary, High Court Legal Services Committee, Rajni Sharma, Joint Registrar (Judicial), Jammu and Abdul Bari, Joint Registrar (Judicial), Srinagar.