It’s time for a virtual judiciary-THE HINDU-06-05-2020

Details:

During the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19, it has become clear that many activities can simply be done online. Over the last decade, Indians have embraced technology in a greater way than ever before.

Many hurdles:

The pendency of cases in various courts in India is staggering. The Survey mistakenly argues for more court infrastructure and judges to solve the problem. On the contrary, the existing infrastructure is grossly under-utilised. The bane of the court system is that lawyers on both sides need to be physically present in court.

An efficient judiciary:

Not only will a virtual judiciary result in substantial savings in costs but will also lead to speedy disposal of cases. The productivity of lawyers will increase substantially as visits to courts and long waiting hours will be more an exception than a rule. While India grapples with a crisis on the health and economic front, we need to think out of the box. If vested interests are kept aside and collective will to initiate what is for the common good takes precedence, a virtual judiciary can become a part of our lives.