SC’s judicial infra panel submits roadmap for court modernisation

NEW DELHI, AUG 31 (PTI): A high-powered judicial infrastructure committee constituted by CJI Surya Kant has submitted its interim report containing a roadmap for modernisation of courts across the country.
The Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee, headed by Supreme Court Judge Justice Aravind Kumar, submitted the report to the CJI on Monday, nearly four months after it was constituted on May 12.
The committee was set up keeping in view the varied infrastructural requirements of different high courts and district courts and was tasked with preparing a blueprint for modernisation of judicial infrastructure and securing suitable government allocation of funds.
The panel comprises Justice Debangsu Basak of the Calcutta High Court, Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan of the Bombay High Court.
Director General of the Central Public Works Department Satinder Pal Singh and Supreme Court Secretary General Bharat Parashar, who is the member secretary, were also part of the committee.
The committee has prepared a blueprint aimed at addressing infrastructural deficiencies in courts through substantial financial support from the government, the Supreme Court said in a press release.
Its mandate included identifying infrastructural constraints faced by the justice delivery system and suggesting facilities required for judges, court staff, lawyers, litigants and visitors.
The panel was also tasked with suggesting measures for computerisation of courts as part of the e-Courts initiative, proposing citizen-centric services to make justice delivery more inclusive and recommending steps to bridge the digital divide.
It examined measures for establishing modern court complexes and improving working conditions for judicial officers and administrative staff to enhance efficiency in the justice delivery system.
When the committee was constituted in May, the Supreme Court had said its purpose was to ensure a “unified infrastructural ecosystem” on pan-India basis, taking into account the different requirements of high courts and district courts.
The committee was also expected to focus on implementing technology-driven measures to accelerate case disposal and constructing modern court complexes suited to the needs of the 21st century.
The interim report will form the basis for further consideration by the CJI and is aimed at facilitating discussions with the Centre and state governments for allocation of funds towards judicial infrastructure, according to the Supreme Court.