On Independence Day, the Delhi High Court introduced its Information and Communication Technologies (I.C.T.) initiatives, continuing its legacy of transforming the electronic legal ecosystem. The inauguration ceremony was conducted by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, in the presence of Justice Rajiv Shakdher, Chairman of the Information Technology Committee, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Sanjeev Narula, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, Member of the Information Technology Committee, and other companion judges. The event was attended by various dignitaries, including the Registrar General, Registrar (Vigilance), Pr. District & Sessions Judge, Family Court and Commercial Court Judges, Addl Solicitor General, Standing Counsel Civil & Criminal, GNCTD, Principal Secretary (Law, Justice & Legislative Affairs), President & Secretary of the Delhi High Court BAR Association, NIC officials, and other officials.
The key announcements made during the event are as follows:
1. S3WaaS Platform
The S3WaaS platform involved the creation of ten new websites for each Delhi District Court. Previously, the district courts’ websites were based on the Drupal platform. However, the new websites built on the Secure, Scalable, and Sugamya Website as a Service (S3WaaS) platform are compliant with the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW). These websites are developed using open-source technology, feature integrated search functionality, and ensure accessibility compliance. All documents on these websites are maintained in OCR format to facilitate access for visually impaired users. The data from the old websites has been transferred to the new platform.
2. Trial Court Record Digital Platform
The Trial Court Record (T.C.R.) Digital Platform for sharing with the High Court has been launched. Previously, the TCR was distributed to the High Courts on CDs, which often suffered from damage and corruption. With the new SSL VPN-based platform, the district courts can easily transmit the T.C.R. records to the High Court digitally. An office order dated 10-08-2023 has already been issued for the digital transfer of the Trial Court Record (TCR) with the High Court. This technology enables seamless digital transfer of the TCR, reducing the cost associated with purchasing CDs in large quantities.
3. Web Accessibility Compliant Cause List
The High Court has established an Accessibility Committee, led by Justice Rajiv Shakdher, to ensure the creation of documents accessible to people with disabilities. Taking input from stakeholders and collaborating with blind attorneys Mr. Rahul Bajaj and Mr. Amar Jain, the High Court of Delhi has made its cause list web-accessible. The Web Accessibility Compliant Cause List facilitates seamless access to the cause list of the Delhi High Court for visually impaired advocates, litigants, and the general public by leveraging various accessibility text-to-speech software.
4. Accessibility Committees
The High Court has mandated the establishment of accessibility committees in all District Courts. Information about these committees will be available on the District Courts’ and High Court’s websites. Advocates, litigants, or members of the public can approach these committees to address various accessibility-related requirements, lodge complaints, and seek assistance. The District Courts’ new S3WaaS website also includes an electronic feedback form to submit requests, recommendations, and complaints.
5. The Delhi Judicial Academy has been directed to conduct regular training sessions for lawyers and court personnel on creating accessible documents and addressing the needs of people with disabilities with care and sensitivity.
Thus, the Delhi High Court has already undertaken projects such as electronic filing, electronic record inspection, digital traffic courts, and hybrid e-Seva Kendras. The new I.C.T. initiatives, particularly those focused on accessibility, mark a significant stride towards addressing the accessibility needs of the digital environment and serve as an inspiration for other courts to follow suit.
Name- Ritika Keshari, College – Ritika Keshari, Semester – 2nd semester as a intern at Legal Vidhiya
