The Supreme Court has issued a directive to all State Information Commissions (SICs) to grant litigants the choice of a hybrid mode of adjudication and ensure the availability of electronic filing (e-filing) for complaints and appeals to all litigants. These directions hold significant implications for the functioning of SICs across the country, highlighting the critical role of technology in the administration of justice, marking a pivotal moment in enhancing accessibility to legal redress, and streamlining the complaint and appeal filing processes. The key feature is the introduction of a “hybrid mode of hearing.” This novel approach offers litigants the opportunity to participate in hearings through a combination of in-person and virtual interactions. The bench of SC emphasised the pivotal role of technology in amplifying access to justice. In a digital age where information can be transmitted and processed rapidly, the incorporation of technology is perceived as a means to bolster the efficiency and effectiveness of the legal process. Streamlined e-filing ensures that the process is user-friendly, efficient, and accessible to all, thereby reducing barriers for individuals seeking legal remedies.
The RTI framework constitutes the linchpin in the ongoing battle against corruption, encountering a multitude of obstructions from officials determined to obstruct access to crucial information. Periodically, both the government and the judiciary issue directives aimed at upholding the integrity and objectives of the RTI. The latest directive represents a timely stride in this enduring pursuit. In the contemporary era defined by digital ubiquity, no sector has remained immune to the transformative effects of technology. Adaptability is the backbone of the evolution of the modern age, and the SC is judiciously guiding the legal fraternity to embrace technology to maintain relevance and furnish expeditious justice.
As the backlog of pending cases continues to mount, it becomes imperative to explore innovative strategies for expediting the time-consuming processes inherent to legal proceedings. The utilisation of online platforms and the digitization of records emerge as highly efficacious means of time management in this regard. The escalating volume of legal actions at both the CIC and SICs serves as a stark indicator that the general populace is being unjustifiably denied access to information following the RTI guidelines. They must be heard, by any means.
Reform measures within the realm of the judiciary constitute an integral facet of the strategy embraced by the SC to grapple with the formidable backlog of pending cases. With time, the SC has issued directives aimed at rendering the legal system more responsive to the exigencies of the populace. The practicality of establishing additional courts to efficiently handle the surplus of cases has become an exceedingly challenging proposition. Instead, a more feasible approach entails the transformation of the legal system, ensuring it is accessible to litigants at their very doorsteps. In an age characterised by ubiquitous internet connectivity, the deployment of technology for the conduct of virtual courts represents nothing short of a revolutionary paradigm shift, one that has discernibly impacted the landscape of legal proceedings and the accumulation of pending cases. In this transformation, the utilisation of e-filing emerges as the most economical means, conferring benefits not only upon litigants but also upon the judicial apparatus itself. Within the constraints of limited manpower, this method facilitates a more efficient management of affairs. Automated mechanisms for scrutiny and control are in place to eliminate any pretexts for the protraction of justice.
The process will mandate that government officials also adhere steadfastly to established timelines when filing responses. In doing so, the systemic inefficiencies that have historically contributed to delays are mitigated. The fusion of technology with jurisprudence has ushered in a new era wherein the legal system is more attuned to the pressing needs of the populace and better equipped to grapple with its burgeoning caseload.
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