Highlighting the significance of state governments in enhancing digital infrastructure within the courts, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud emphasized that there have been instances when state authorities have not allocated necessary funds for this purpose.
While presiding over a hearing challenging the abrogation of Article 370, the CJI recounted a situation during the Covid-19 pandemic when a high court faced financial constraints in acquiring licenses for essential video conferencing software. He mentioned that some licenses from the Supreme Court were subsequently reallocated to support the high court.
The CJI’s response was prompted by senior advocate Dushyant Dave’s observation that lower courts require technological advancement. In addressing this concern, the CJI assured the advocate that there now exists a substantial budget to enhance the technological capabilities of lower courts.
“Phase III of the e-Courts project is set to bring technological innovations into the functioning of the judiciary, particularly in lower courts. We now possess a substantial budget for advancing this endeavor,” CJI Chandrachud affirmed.
In his Independence Day address, the chief judge remarked that Phase III of the e-Courts project aims to transform the operations of courts in India through the integration of courts across the nation
