Preparation of sites for computer server rooms and judicial information centres in the courts at the district headquarters in Tamil Nadu has been completed as part of an E-Court Project. Computers will be installed in the district courts soon.
Work is apace on providing the facility in the courts at the taluk-level.
The project fully funded by the Central Government and to be implemented in three phases, aims at computerising the country’s entire judicial process from the courts at the taluk level to the Supreme Court. Another objective is to ensure transparency, accountability and cost-effectiveness in judicial administration.
In the first phase, computer rooms and judicial service centres (to provide information) would be provided. Also, it has been planned to establish digital inter-connectivity between block-level courts and the Supreme Court. In Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (Madras High Court has jurisdiction over the Union Territory also), there are 311 courts at the district level and 380 in the taluks. There are 30 judicial districts. The project is being implemented by the State PWD, according to a High Court source.
When the first phase is completed, a database of all judicial orders will be available for the public. Further, there will be user-friendly facilities to retrieve the material. Integrated customised software for the judicial system with regional language support is expected to be in place.
The completion of the first phase would enable the provision of information and communication technology coverage of judicial processes from the stage of filing to execution and administrative activities.
The last phase would usher in information gateways between courts, public agencies and departments.
A steering committee, headed by Justice D.Murugesan and consisting of four other Judges, is monitoring the progress of the project in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
