Chief Justice of India NV Ramana Launches 'FASTER' - Software To Transmit E-Copies Of Court Orders

The Judges of Supreme Court and Chief Justices and Judges of High Courts also joined the online launch event.

During the launch event, the CJI said that the concept of FASTER took shape after reading a news report regarding prisoners not being released despite the Supreme Court granting them bail three days ago as the physical copies of the orders were not delivered to the prison officials.  

After that, the CJI-led bench took up a suo motu case and directions were issued to develop the electronic system.

"The purpose of FASTER is, orders passed by the Supreme Court or any Courts have to be transmitted safety without interference by their party", the CJI said. 73 nodal officers have been selected at the High Court level to execute the software.There are total 1,887 email ids of the nodal officers and other officers. FASTER will communicate bail orders and it will have digital signature of SC officers for authentication. Communication is restricted to the email id holders which ensures privacy, safety and security.

The CJI thanked Supreme Court judges Justice Chandrachud, Justice Khanwilkar & Justice Hemant Gupta, Secretary General of the Supreme Court, Registrars of Computer Committee, Chief Justices of High Courts, and the E- Committee Chairman for making the project successful

The FASTER (Fast and Secured Transmission of Electronic Records) system proposes transmission of e-authenticated copies of the interim orders, stay orders, bail orders and record of proceedings to the duty-holders for compliance and due execution, through a secured electronic communication channel.

While expressing concern about the plight of the jail- inmates not released despite bail orders passed due to delay in communication of such orders, the Supreme Court had in September last year approved the use of an electronic system named FASTER (Fast and Secured Transmission of Electronic Records) for transmission of e-authenticated copies of orders.

A Bench headed by CJI NV Ramana had directed the Director General, National Informatics Centre, Secretary (Home) along with the Director General or Inspector General of Prisons of all the States and Union Territories to ensure smooth and successful implementation of FASTER system and coordinate with the Supreme Court's Registry in this regard.

The Bench had directed all the duty-holders to amend their Rules/ Procedure/Practice/directions forthwith to recognise the e-authenticated copy of the order of the Top Court communicated to them through FASTER system and comply with the directions contained therein.

The Apex Court had also directed the Chief Secretaries of all the States and Union Territories to ensure the availability of internet facility with adequate speed in each and every jail and take necessary steps to arrange for internet facility expeditiously wherever the same is not available. Till then, the communication is directed to be made through the Nodal Officers of the State Governments under FASTER system.

The Court had directed the implementation of the FASTER system after perusing the proposal submitted by Secretary General of the Supreme Court suggesting modalities for implementation and the pre-requisites and the timelines to work out the pre-requisites for implementation of the system.

Background

On July 16, taking suo motu cognizance of the issue, a Bench led by CJI had on last occasion observed that the Supreme Court was thinking of implementing a system to electronically transmit bail orders to prisons so that the release of prisoners on bail will not be delayed.

The suo motu case was prompted by a news report which stated that the convicts lodged in Agra Central Jail have not been released even after 3 days of the order granting them bail.

The Bench had asked the State Governments/Union Territories the details of whether efficient internet facilities are available in their respective prisons. If not, the States were directed to suggest alternative if any.

The Bench had also directed the Secretary General of the Supreme Court to submit a proposal suggesting the modalities to implement FASTER system within two weeks.

The Secretary General was directed to coordinate/consult with the Amicus Curiae, Mr. Dushyant Dave, Senior counsel, Mr. Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India, the National Informatics Centre or other Government Authorities, in this behalf. e on this initiative of the CJI within two weeks.