CJI hails proposed budgetary allocation for eCourts

• Between March 23, 2020, and October 30, 2022, the apex court heard 3.37 lakh cases through video conferencing
• CJI said that they are continuing to use technological infrastructure for a hybrid mode of hearing
• The 73rd anniversary of the establishment of the Supreme Court was graced by Chief Justice of Singapore

The proposed allocation of Rs 7,000 crore in the 2023-24 budget for the third phase of the eCourts project will strengthen judicial institutions and efficiency while ensuring that courts reach every citizen, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said.

Addressing the Supreme Court's 73rd founding anniversary, he said that during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the apex court had adopted video conferencing of court proceedings to reach out to the people.

“In the recent budget, the Government of India has introduced a provision of Rs 7,000 crore for Phase 3 of the e-Courts project. This will help improve the accessibility of judicial institutions and the efficiency of judicial systems in India. Such efforts will ensure that justice reaches every citizen of India,” Justice Chandrachud said.

Between March 23, 2020 and October 30, 2022, the apex court heard 3.37 million cases through video conferencing, he said. “We've updated our video conferencing infrastructure on a meta scale. We continue to use the technology infrastructure for a hybrid mode of hearing that allows parties from any part of the country to join the court proceedings,” said CJI Chandrachud.

The Supreme Court's 73rd anniversary event was graced by the Chief Justice of Singapore, Justice Sundaresh Menon, who spoke on 'The Role of the Judiciary in a Changing World'.