new Delhi: In a bid to improve the functioning of the Supreme Court and make it a more accessible institution in every aspect, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud has initiated “attractive” and “collaborative” measures to bring about necessary reforms in the institution.
Within a month of assuming the reins of India’s top judiciary, CJI Chandrachud set up two committees – one to suggest much-needed changes in the current process from filing of judicial cases to listing of judicial cases and the other to review the SC To improve access.
The CJI, who is known to use technology as an effective tool to deliver justice, has taken another step to make the registry paperless. Work is on to develop a portal for lawyers arguing their cases in the apex court to mark their online presence.
Under current practice, lawyers mark their attendance on a piece of paper, which is then handed over to court staff. Thereafter, the name of the advocate is reflected in the order sheet of a case.
In addition, the CJI also got the Supreme Court mobile application updated to allow government law officers and ministries to easily track the status of their cases. This new feature came in the mobile app makes It becomes easier for government officials to track cases directly and their dependence on lawyers is reduced for the same.
These efforts have been welcomed by the Bar, both experienced as well as young lawyers, saying that this is the first time that such attractive steps have been taken at the behest of the CJI.
Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (score) president Manoj Kumar Mishra said that ever since Justice Chandrachud took over as CJI, he has regularly interacted with bar bodies who represent lawyers in the apex court to get inputs for improving the functioning of the institution.
Mishra said, “He is open to ideas and suggestions and believes in bringing change through discussion rather than imposing them on the bar.”
Soon after taking over as CJI on November 9, Justice Chandrachud consulted with mate Judges on the format to be followed for listing the cases. Soon after, he issued instructions scheduled caste All the 13 benches will hear 10 transfer petitions related to matrimonial disputes and an equal number of bail pleas to reduce the pendency, the registry said. This resulted in the achievement of the apex court 209 percent Settlement rate in last two weeks.
but realizing that there were other stakeholders whose views could be Well Adjust To make the functioning more efficient, CJI Chandrachud constituted a committee under Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul – who is the next senior most judge after the CJI – to conduct the first Organized Hackathons In Supreme Court.
A source in the Supreme Court Registry told ThePrint that the purpose of organizing the hackathon is to explore innovative ideas and practical proposals to refine the way the top court works and bring in greater efficiency.
This brainstorming exercise will not be limited to lawyers, but will also include officers working in the SC Registry as well as law clerks deputed to the residential offices of judges. All the participants will have to submit their suggestions online from 24 to 30 December.
Eighteen best innovative ideas will be identified and given an opportunity to make presentations to showcase their vision. the source said.
To encourage participation, the apex court has also planned to felicitate the first rank holder and runner-up of the hackathon.
A separate “Accessibility Committee” has been constituted to conduct a comprehensive accessibility audit of the Supreme Court Complex. Headed by Justice Ravindra Bhat, the audit by this panel will extend to both physical and technical access to the apex court.
As mandated by the CJI, the survey for this audit should not only include lawyers but also litigants who are isolated and face problems of access to the apex court. The committee will also include a professor from the National Law University, Bengaluru, a disabled SC employee and a disabled advocate nominated by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). After its audit the panel will recommend the proposals To remove barriers for the benefit of the disabled.
Giving details of the two initiatives, SCBA Secretary Yugandhara Pawar Jha said that this shows that the CJI is aware of the difficulties faced by the legal community as well as the public in accessing the top court of the country.
Later Justice Chandrachud After taking over as the chairman of the SC’s e-committee, the panel developed programs to make the functioning of the apex court paperless. Now, as CJI, he directed the creation of a new portal to facilitate advocates to mark their appearance online. This eco-friendly move will save around two lakh papers every year.
Speaking on this new process, Mishra revealed that the CJI took the decision on the advocate presence portal after consultation with SCORA officials. “The present system of marking attendance on pieces of paper is cumbersome as well as prone to misuse. In many cases, advocates who do not appear in the court, appear in the attendance list only to present bills for their clients. I include my name in it. SCORA President added.
SCBA President Vikas Singh also appreciated the new initiative. “Though they are still at an experimental stage, they are definitely good,” a senior advocate told ThePrint.
The updated version of SC’s mobile app will enable law officers as well as nodal officers of central ministries and departments to view the status of their cases, orders and other relevant information. The new version will provide real-time information on not only final decisions, but orders on intermediate or miscellaneous applications as well. In addition, copies of applications and documents e-filed by the other party will also be available on the app.
(Edited by Tony Rae)
Read also: DY Chandrachud, the liberal judge who created history by sending his father’s legacy to the archives