Let’s have the technology please

India might cherish its reputation as a provider of e-governance solutions to the world, but it is yet to find a viable remedy to cure the backlog of prolonged high-profile cases.

The country had suffered humiliation before the courts abroad for the snail-paced justice delivery system.

Two retired Supreme Court Chief Justices once joined issue before a US court that is, incidentally, subordinate to the forum from which they had retired. While the affidavit by one said justice in India was a distant dream, other rebutted it saying the situation was not gloomy.

Both were appearing in an arbitration involving a multi-national concern and the government of India. Million dollars were at stake.

The heated arguments between two Chief Justices of India confirm the belief that justice dispensation requires a major surgery. Law Commission members S Murlidhar and NM Ghatate had also suggested that every high court must have commercial Benches to deal with disputes over business and economy separately.  But the government has not acted so far.

Compare the scenario here with US Judiciary’s remote access capabilities that enable judges and staff to reach the IT system through the touch of a screen.

Even when inclement weather makes it impossible for court staff to travel to work, in states like Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, they conducted work from their homes or cars through personal digital assistants, laptops or desktop computers.

After September 11, courts in America resumed work within 48 hours and could access their systems through critical information technology systems.

IT teams dedicated to the judiciary protect the state-of-the-art systems from hackers who could work as insurgents in the legal domains.