Tech helping transform the legal system amid pandemic: SC judge

Virtual courts, digital workplaces and electronic case management amid the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic have provided a rare opportunity to embrace technology to transform our legal system, Supreme Court judge Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud said.

The use of technology will make the legal system more “efficient, inclusive, accessible and environmentally sustainable”, he said.

Justice Chandrachud, also the chairperson of the apex court’s e-committee, made the observations while writing the foreword of the manual for use of free ‘e-courts Services’ mobile application in 14 languages.

The e-committee released the manuals in English and regional languages, including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarathi, Kannada, Khasi, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu.

Justice Chandrachud stressed upon the importance of the free mobile app and highlighted the reach of this citizen-centric initiative. “The e-committee of the Supreme Court has been at the forefront of introducing digital reforms in the field of law. In the past one year, the pandemic has also pushed advocates, judges and litigants to adopt high-tech solutions due to the closure of offices and courts in light of lockdowns and public health concerns.

“Working remotely, virtual courts, digital workplaces and electronic case management have become integral to how the legal profession is practiced and conducted. This has given us a rare opportunity to embrace technology not just as an interim measure, but to transform our legal system to make it more efficient, inclusive, accessible and environmentally sustainable,” he said. NEW DELHI

USE OF TECH WILL MAKE THE LEGAL SYSTEM MORE ‘EFFICIENT, INCLUSIVE, ACCESSIBLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE’, SAYS JUSTICE DY CHANDRACHUD