Justice DY Chandrachud, the Chairman of the E-committee, Supreme Court, on Thursday e-inaugurated Virtual Courts for Traffic Challans and an e-Filing System for Karnataka. .The inauguration ceremony was live-streamed on Youtube..Apart from Justice Chandrachud, the ceremony also saw the presence of Justices AS Bopanna, Abdul Nazeer and Mohan M Shantanagoudar, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court AS Oka and others. .In his welcome address, Justice Aravind Kumar of the Karnataka High Court stated that about 9,000 Challans are generated and large amounts of fines are collected in the state of Karnataka owing to the huge number of vehicles in the state..Violators were earlier required to physically to appear before Courts for the non-payment of meagre fines. However, things have changed, Justice Kumar observed. Now fines can be paid instantly from anywhere by violators. This will not only save time but also ensures that both the Judges and the violators do not come in contact with each other, said Justice Kumar. .In his address, Justice Kumar also went on to list the virtues of Virtual Courts, stating that it reduces the burden on physical courts, reduces the footfall, and also quickens the Court process for all stakeholders..Justice Chandrachud began his inaugural address by congratulating the Jugdes of the Karnataka High Court headed by Chief Justice Oka for rising up to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and conducting hearings in an efficient manner. .Justice Chandrachud further remarked, ."After the dust of COVID-19 settles, the image we will have is that of Chief Justice Oka welcoming a member of the staff who had been infected by the virus with a rose. It shows his sensitivity and sympathy ...."Justice DY Chandrachud, Supreme Court.Karnataka HC Chief Justice Abhay Oka wins hearts as he welcomes court staff who recovered from COVID-19 back to work.Justice Chandrachud went on to observe that virtual courts would greatly help in saving the time and efforts of fine-payers. ."To give you the present idea of virtual courts, 101.74 crores worth of fines have been collected till date. Imagine the amount of time it is saving for the citizens, who won't have to go to court anymore!" he said..Justice Chandrachud also informed that the e-committee had started "smart-listing of cases" which would reduce the burden on the judiciary. ."So, if an advocate is busy with one case at one time, he will not be required in another case at the same time", Justice Chandrachud said..Speaking on video conference hearings being conducted amid the pandemic, he said that they have provided a tremendous opportunity for the younger members of the profession to establish themselves and be heard before a Bench. .The new mode of hearing has also enabled women members of the Bar to appear before the court from the comfort of their homes or chambers, Justice Chandrachud added. .Justice Chandrachud also touched upon the topic of the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS), saying that it would be a critical system which will help link various stakeholders in the criminal justice administration, which includes the police, the prisons etc. This will help in data tracking and the quick disposal of cases, he added. .Justice Chandrachud concluded by saying that the Virtual Court was a joint effort by the High Court and the Administration. He further stated that Judges are independent in their judicial work, but when it comes to administrative work, Judges are required to work together with other departments. .Justice AS Bopanna observed that computerisation is one of the solutions to reduce delays in the deliverance of Justice. Computerisation is a "silver lining" in this regard as "Justice delayed is Justice denied", Justice Bopanna said..The ceremony came to an end after Justice John Micheal Cunha delivered the vote of thanks. .The other speakers for the event included the Commissioner of Police, Kamal Pant and CJ Oka. The ceremony also saw the participation of various High Court Judges, Senior Advocates and other dignitaries. .Along with the virtual Court, a dedicated website for commercial Courts, a facility for the online application for certified copies, online payment of Court fee, process charges and copying fee were some of the other initiatives that were launched on Thursday.
