Adil Lateef
Srinagar, Aug 31: As part of implementation of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in judicial system, the Jammu and Kashmir is all set to start work on the phase-II of e-courts project approved by the Government of India (GoI) on August 4 this year.
The phase-I has already been completed in the state after the approval by GoI in 2007. The ICT in judicial system is part of the e-governance project in courts and its phase-I was approved by the GoI two years after Supreme Court drafted the project for action plan of introduction of ICT year 2005.
The GoI approved the phase-II of the ICT after Supreme Court conceived its guidelines at an estimated cost of Rs 1670 crores across the India. The courts have to implement the phase-II of ICT project in 4 years.
The Central Project Coordinator (CPC), e-Courts High Court of Jammu and Kashmir, Malik Shabir Ahmad, told Excelsior that they are waiting for the guidelines of e-committee of Supreme Court to start the work for phase-II. “We will first identify the courts to be brought under the phase-II. Then we will prepare our report which we would send to the e-committee and after that the committee would send us funds for the purchase of the hardware,” he said.
Under the phase-I, every court in the country including the Jammu and Kashmir were to be provided with computers with one server, printer, scanner, copier, fax, LAN and VAN connectivity and broadband for the digitization of the data.
While as under the phase-II, the case proceedings would take place through video conferencing. Malik Shabir said that with the completion of phase-II, there would be no need to bring the accused to the court and the hearing of the case would be done through video conferencing.
“It would be online. The cameras would be fitted in (all) jails and court rooms. This would not only save time, capital and other expenses of the Government but would also be safe in every means,” he said, adding that the concept of e-courts would be “beneficial both to the state as well as people”.
Besides the implementation of phase-II, the CPC of e-courts said, the augmentation of the hardware would also be done. While explaining it, Malik Shabir said: “For example if we have four computers, we will be providing four more new computers. And, the courts which are yet to be brought under phase-I would also be provided with the hardware.”
“According to tentative figures available with us, we have already brought 150 courts under the phase-I and 40 new courts are to be included under the said phase,” he said.
To implement the phase-II, the State legislature needs to amend the Section 167 which states that no magistrate shall authorise the detention in any custody under the said section unless the accused is produced before him, the CPC e-courts said. “You know that under phase-II, the proceedings shall take place through video conferencing so Section 167 needs amendment,” he said.
After the phase-I and phase-II, the ICT has also phase-III which would connect the judiciary and Government. Malik Shabir said that the e-courts would “revolutionize” the judicial proceedings across the state. “It would enhance judicial productivity, make justice delivery system affordable, accessible, cost effective, transparent and accountable,” he said.
Once the phase-II is completed, the people would also be able to get the certified order copy of the case. People, with the availability of e-courts, would also be able to file the cases online and can know their status.
It is to be seen whether these e-courts sustain in longer run as State government hasn’t owned the Mission Mode Project yet.
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