Madras High Court topping the charts for virtual hearings: Justice M Sundar at launch of e-filing system version 3.0

The Madras High Court on Monday launched an upgraded version of its e-filing technology in line with its vision - as well as that of the Supreme Court - to make electronic filing seamless and widely used..The new software, version 3.0 as it is called, was inaugurated by Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala in the presence of the High Court’s Computer Committee Chairperson Justice M Sundar and its members Justices GS Swaminathan, Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, D Bharatha Chakravarthy and R Vijayakumar..Justice Sundar said that as per the Supreme Court’s e-dashboard, the Madras High Court had been topping the charts when it came to performance of High Courts in virtual hearings, and the Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software (SUVAS) for translating apex court judgments into regional languages.“Out of 25 High Courts, we are contributing to one fifth of virtual hearings. In SUVAS, the translation tool - translation of judgments in Tamil, we are topping the list. Maximum number of translations, we have done,” Justice Sundar said..The new version, which has been provided by the Supreme Court’s e-Committee, has a “long list of big features,” including a separate login for advocates’ clerks, Justice Sundar said.It has a separate login option for litigants and provides for visible identification of litigants and digital signatures. The upgraded software also includes an integrated court fee payment system, and portfolio management for advocates..Another significant feature of the new version is the option of electronic bail bonds, which is meant to reduce time for production of bail bonds so that a prison inmate is able to come out the same day bail is granted, Justice Sundar said.The e-bail bond system was launched as a pilot project in Tuticorin district in Tamil Nadu. Based on the feedback of the local chief judicial magistrate, the Madras High Court’s Computer Committee team improvised and came up with this version that integrates all taluks and districts across the State..The digital transmission of court records will allow lower courts to digitally upload any records called for by the higher courts and such information will be accessible to judges and presiding officers on their electronic devices at the click of a button..CJ Gangapurwala congratulated the High Court’s Computer Committee and the Registry for making the launch possible.“The advantages of the new version of e-filing are immense. We are topping the virtual hearing list. I hope and urge all lawyers to help us top the chart for e-filing as well. Because the CJI has a vision of making courts paperless, it can be a reality in the coming years, and we cannot lag behind."