Supreme Court goes paperless; moves towards digital filing

The Supreme Court today took a step towards being paperless with Prime Minister Narendra Modi uploading the Integrated Case Management Information System on the apex court website, to mark the introduction of digital filing.

Modi expressed confidence that the combination of "Information Technology" and "Indian Talent" would create "India Tomorrow."

Dwelling on the theme of technology, the Prime Minister spoke of the implications and possibilities that "Artificial Intelligence" could bring about. He mentioned several occasions in the recent past, when people from various walks of life had come forward to help the poor and recalled the success of the "Give-It-Up" movement to give up LPG subsidy and the initiative of doctors across the country to treat poor pregnant women free of cost on the 9th of every month. 

In the same vein, he urged lawyers to come forward to provide pro-bono legal aid to the poor and needy.

''This spirit brings about a positive change, and engenders a sense of responsibility,'' he said and added that it also created trust among the common people, which was the key to 'New India.'

He said technology had often been equated to hardware in the past, and therefore, it was important to bring about a change in mindset. ''Technology can only be embraced collectively within an institution,'' he said and pointed out that paperless initiatives save the environment, and are therefore a great service for future generations.

Speaking about the benefits of technology, the Prime Minister recalled the recently organised "Hackathon," where 400 issues across ministries in the Government of India were identified, and 42,000 students from Indian Universities spent 36 hours in an attempt to solve them. The ministries were adapting many of the outcomes of this exercise, he added.

Referring to the Chief Justice of India's appeal at Allahabad on April 2, for the higher judiciary to take up hearings of cases on at least some days during the vacation, the Prime Minister said the appeal was inspirational, and he had heard encouraging news in this regard from the Supreme Court and High Courts.

He greeted the gathering on the occasion of Buddha Purnima and recalled that today ?  May 10 ? marks the  anniversary of the beginning of the First War of Independence in 1857.

Chief Justice of India Justice JS Khehar explained the benefits of the digital filing application and described today's initiative as the biggest leap towards introducing technology in the judicial system and recalled the sesquicentennial celebrations of Allahabad High Court last month when the Prime Minister made a strong case for introducing technology to ease the working of courts. 

Making a presentation on the application, Justice AM Khanwilkar said the new initiative would be an illustration of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas."

Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad appreciated the Supreme Court for this digital innovation.

Justices Dipak Misra and J Chelameswar were present on the occasion, an official statement here said.