Dear Friends,
Please refer to my earlier posts on how can a Blind person work as a Judge in which I had proposed that if the petitioner, Counters, Rejoinders, Evidence, Affidavits, judgements/orders and all other documents could be in e-format, the Blind Judges would be a great success. This provides an enabling environment. Though the reasoning being given may not be striving towards an accessible and enabling environment and may be to counter shortcomings of a paper-based system like storage, maintenance and wastage of a lot of paper, it works fine for us. A blessing in disguise. Sustainability requires inclusion of all as well as being eco-friendly.
With this news, I am delighted that what I proposed some time back is surely going to see the light of the day. The good part is that the judge would be able to look at the file and relevant rules/acts on a touch/screen just like a file in the hand. And this makes it so accessible to blind judges.
I am sincerely counting on atleast six-seven blind candidates who are appearing for the forthcoming Delhi Judical Service examination being conducted by Delhi High Court. The preparation are in full swing and I am keeping my fingers crossed.
To read the news from source click on the link below or read the news here itself below the link.
regards
SC Vashishth, Advocate-Disability Rights
Delhi High Court to start e-Courts in Dec
e-Courts will reduce paperwork and filing of cases will be much easier and lawyers will have just to submit a CD or DVD
Published on 11/27/2009 2:01:55 PM
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court plans to start e-Courts that will not only ensure speedy justice for all but reduce paperwork and be eco-friendly, by next month.
"The necessity of e-Courts has arisen due to shortcomings of a paper-based system like storage, maintenance and wastage of a lot of paper," Justice BD Ahmed said.
Justice Ahmad, who is the in-charge of the e-Court committee, said the e-Courts will start functioning from early next month, reports IANS.
Emphasising the need for fast disposal of cases, he said e-Courts will function in a more organised manner and anyone across the world can see the case file.
"We are also working on the project in which live court proceedings would also be seen on the website," Justice Ahmed said, adding that the project will be first started in one court and will soon be started in all other courts, including the five district courts in the capital.
For lawyers and litigants, the e-Courts will be a great help as it would enable them to stop carrying bulky files to the court and just a USB device or the CD of their case.
"Recording of evidence in any case will be done electronically. We are planning to have centres all across the capital from where the person can record his statement and the court can see it via video-conferencing. This will help us in saving a lot of time not only of litigants but also of the court," Justice S Muralidhar, another member of the e-Court committee said.
He noted the new system will also help to put a halt to frequent adjournments by the lawyers.
With the help of e-Courts, warrants, court notices and other documents can be sent via e-mail to the party or the post office concerned from where a service slip will be sent back confirming the receipt.
"We will also ensure that courts shall provide adequate facility to the lawyers while they argue their case using the laptops. Judges will also be given a touch screen handbook which will be like their computer screen and they can read it like a file," Justice Ahmed said.
With the introduction of e-Courts, filing of cases will be much easier and lawyers will have just to submit a CD or DVD.
"We are also planning to introduce a system where court fees can be paid online so that entire work is done at a click of mouse," Justice Ahmed said, noting introduction of e-Courts will enhance transparency, accountability and accessibility for a litigant.
