File from anywhere, anytime: Delhi High Court inaugurates Online e-filing System for all types of cases
In a big push towards complete digitization, the Delhi High Court today inaugurated its Online e-filing System.
The inauguration, which was held virtually, was attended by Judges of the High Court, its Officials as well as Judicial Officers from subordinate judiciary.
Online filing facility will enable advocates and litigants-in-person to remotely file fresh cases or caveat as well as applications, reply, rejoinder, documents, vakalatnama etc in the pending cases.
Unlike before, online e-filing can be availed for all types of cases and is not listed to only tax, arbitration and company matters.
Introducing the online filing facility, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice DN Patel remarked,
Time is yours, date is yours. Just do the filing.. From Jammu-Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Dwarka to Arunachal Pradesh, one can file cases.Chief Justice Patel
Chief Justice Patel explained that even the defects would be cured through the online filing portal after they are communicated through email or contact number.
"If I can do paperless court, surely everyone can.. Now I don't want to switch to paper.", Chief Justice DN Patel remarked as he shared his experience of presiding over a paperless court from his first day at the Delhi High Court.
Chairman of High Court's Information Technology Committee, Justice Rajiv Shakdher said that the aim of the facility was to increase access and not diminish it.
He said that the facility would help decrease footfall, save the environment and lessen inventory cost.
"COVID-19 challenged our capacity but our IT team stood up to the challenge." Justice Shakdher stated as he informed that all the Judges of the High Court were sitting over their respective rosters every day through the virtual mode.
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva informed that the Delhi High Court was the first court to go digital in 2009 and to introduce e-filing in certain categories of cases in 2013.
Justice Navin Chawla stated that although the system is very easy to use, a video tutorial would be uploaded on the High Court's website for all to visit.
Senior Advocate Mohit Mathur, President, Delhi High Court Bar Association welcomed the facility, especially in view of the COVID-19 which has made standing in queues at filing counters and photocopy shops infeasible.
Lesser use of paper and the ease of filing should not prompt us to burden the Judges with gigabytes instead of kilogramsPresident Mathur light-heartedly remarked.
Justice Prathiba M Singh delivered the vote of thanks and appreciated the constant and tireless efforts being made by the IT team of the High Court to conduct the virtual hearing during the lockdown. She also thanked Registrar General Manoj Jain and Registrars Aditi Chaudhary and Sunil Kukreja for their contribution.
Watch the e-inauguration ceremony: