CJI inaugurates Virtual High courts in ten Odisha districts
Cuttack, Feb 4: Chief Justice of India Dr. Justice D. Y. Chandrachud on Friday inaugurated virtual High Courts in ten of the 30 districts of Odisha online.
The virtual High Courts were established in Sambalpur, Berhampur(Ganjam), Bhadrak, Baleswar, Bhawanipatna (Kalahandi) Bhubaneswar (Khordha), Bolangir, Jeypore (Koraput), Puri and Rourkela (Sundargarh) in the first phase.
In the next phase, it is proposed to open more Virtual High Courts in those districts where the volume of filing will justify it or where there is a long standing demand of the Bar for such facility.
The choice of the first 10 virtual High Courts was dictated by the geographical location and the volume of cases filed from the districts in the High Court.
It is seen that of the present pending caseload of around 1.7 lakh cases in the High Court, around 72,760 cases are filed from these ten districts, with the highest of the above ten districts being Khurda from where around 27,160 cases have been filed.
The above districts are also chosen in a manner to make it easy for those in the neighbouring districts within a radius of 100 km to use the facilities of the Virtual High Court in those districts for the present.
Cuttack being the seat of the High Court, there will be no need to have an additional Virtual High Court there.
These Virtual High Courts will have video conferencing facilities, a ‘Back Office’ where it will be possible for lawyers to e-file their cases with assistance from staff/officers dedicated for that purpose.
Delivering the inaugural address Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud applauded the initiative of the High Court of Orissa and said that the High Court has been a trailblazer in e-Initiatives and the movements spearheaded by it will turn into a National movement when the other High Court in the country will follow the suit.
The CJI said while most of the High Courts have only one seat and few High Courts have second Benches, the High Court of Orissa will be the first High Court to be accessible from all the districts of the State.
The CJI said the Virtual High Court in Districts will ensure decentralization of administration of justice and ensure accessibility of the High Court to the advocates of remote districts.
He said video conferencing facilities in the Virtual High Courts will give exposure to the legal talents of the smaller cities who often find it difficult to practice in the High Court due to lack of accessibility.
The CJI announced that a new initiative of translating its judgments into the regional languages with the use of AI tool has been adopted by the Supreme Court with the help of IIT, Madras and expressed hope that under the leadership of Dr. S. Muralidhar the High Court of Orissa would adopt translation of its judgments into Odia.
The CJI said the Supreme Court has launched e-Supreme Court Reports by which 35,000 judgments of the Supreme Court have been made available in the portal for use of the lawyers, Judges and litigants free of charge.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. S. Muralidhar, Chief Justice Orissa High Court said setting up Virtual High Courts in the Districts is a big step forward and if it succeeds, it will change the face of the judiciary.
He said the Virtual High Court of the 10 districts established in the first phase will serve the needs of the neighbouring districts till it is set up in the remaining districts.
