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t w o
T
here is a lot of talk about e-governance, about drastically revolutionizing the
government-citizen interface and empowering the common person. However,
one area that I believe needs focus and which forms a very important part of
government functioning is the judicial system, which is in dire need of change.
The judicial system in Gujarat, as also in India, is severely impeded by a long line
of pending cases that are choking up the system. Crores of cases are lying pending
with the courts in India, interfering with the quick disbursement of justice.
Most of the cases are in the sessions and district courts, proving in full the old maxim that
“
justice delayed is justice denied.”
Gujarat, the state that has produced a host of legal luminaries should take
the lead in creating an e-judiciary.
It is an undisputed fact that IT brings in speed,
efficiency, productivity and transparency to work. Had Gujarat been proactive in
embracing IT for its judiciary, the system would have been working today like a
well-oiled piece of machinery.
The answer to Gujarat’s legal woes are “SMART courts”
—
simple, moral, accountable,
responsive and transparent.
The first step in this direction should be a networking of all the courts across the
state. Even at the grassroot levels
—
that is, the panchayati platform
—
Internet nodes
should be provided within community centers to enable rural Gujarat to knock on
the doors of the justice providers
—
digitally. Today, the common man has to travel
to the sessions and high courts to seek justice. With such Internet enablement at
the village level, people will not need to travel long distances each time they have a
court date or a hearing.
At the click of a mouse, they will be able to know the date they are required
to be at the courts, and in fact even request for a change of date, if required.
By sending across an application or form on the Net, the rural community will be
able to have control over its dealings with the courts. Besides, it will not have to
waste time in travel
—
an issue which is of immense importance, particularly for
daily-wage earners and farmers.
The Times of India, Ahmedabad December 4, 2000
“
SMART Courts for Ensuring Justice”
