HC activates ICT initiatives to modernise judicial system
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 28 2024: Under the leadership of Chief Justice Siddharth Mridul, the High Court of Manipur is set to modernise the judicial system through a series of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiatives.

Spearheaded by Computer Committee chairman Justice A Bimol Singh, and committee member Justice A Guneshwar Sharma, the initiatives aim to introduce citizen-centric services to benefit the people of Manipur.

According to a statement issued by joint registrar (judicial), the High Court has issued a notification permitting advocates and litigants to appear through video conferencing in a hybrid mode effective from July 1, this year, considered a significant step towards modernising court proceedings and improving accessibility for all parties involved.

To support the hybrid hearing in the district courts, the state government has sanctioned Rs 13.36 crore for procurement of various technological components, including interactive touch screen displays, Ultra HD professional displays, All-In-One PCs, PTZ cameras, Full HD document cameras, video recording and streaming devices, microphones, audio DSPs, audio amplifiers, wall mounted speakers, UPS, and video conferencing software licenses for all district courts.

Additionally, the High Court has secured a dedicated lease agreement with Railtel to provide robust internet connectivity to all courts in the state.

In another move, the High Court has mandated e-filing in all district and session courts from July 1, as a pilot project to create a digital repository of case records, facilitating a smooth transition to a paperless court system.

Upon successful implementation, e-fil-ing will be extended to all courts across the state.

It is said that multiple training sessions for e-filing and hybrid hearings have been organised for judicial officers, advocates, and court staff in coordination with the Manipur Judicial Academy.

To ensure success of these initiatives, Justices Bimol and A Guneshwar held a meeting with the office bearers of High Court Bar Association, All Manipur Bar Association, and District Court Bar Associations.

They emphasised the importance of e-filing and hybrid hearings and sought the legal community's support in these ICT initiatives.

Furthermore, the High Court has floated tender for the procurement of All-In-One desktops, UPS systems, and scanners for the High Court Bar Association, All Manipur Bar Association, and all District Court Bar Associations of the state, funded by the state for e-filing and video conferencing.

In a bid to enhance administrative and financial efficiency, the High Court has also implemented the mandatory use of e-office for all administrative and financial matters, eliminating the need for physical paper movement within the High Court.

These transformative steps mark a significant advancement in the judicial system of Manipur, aiming to improve efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability, the statement informed.

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