Supreme Court contemplating online portal with real time information on judicial appointments, vacancies, infrastructure

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the submission of a concept note with respect to the proposed setting up of an online portal containing information on judicial vacancies and judicial infrastructure on a real time basis. .A bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud asked advocate K Parmeshwar to submit the concept note for setting up a web portal on which all information can be uploaded by the High Courts and law secretaries of States, both on positions of judicial appointments and infrastructure, including manpower, on a real-time basis..The proposal for a national case management committee should also be deal with in the note, the Court further directed. .The Court passed the order following a request made by a counsel present to set up an online portal where relevant data could be uploaded."I will speak to the secretary general to have an online portal ... We can even do it through the E-Committee. Mr Parmeshwar, make a note on this and give it to the Secretary General," CJI Chandrachud orally observed, before the order was passed..The Court was dealing with a petition concerning judicial vacancies and infrastructure in district courts across the country. States were divided into four categories and will be heard by taking inputs of amicus curiae assigned to each High Court on specific days, the bench informed today. ."We will ask them to give updated status reports within two weeks. We can include registrars and law secretaries also," CJI Chandrachud informed. .A status report concerning the High Courts of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Patna and Punjab and Haryana was submitted by Senior Advocate Vijay Hansaria today, dealing with the position on vacancies and infrastructure in the district courts of these States.The Court, thereafter, requested Senior Advocate KV Viswanathan to address the Court on February 9 with respect to the High Courts of Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir. The Registrars of these Courts have been directed to furnish an updated position in respect of vacancies and infrastructure in the district judiciary.Senior Advocate Shyam Divan was tasked with addressing the Court with respect to the High Courts of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, and North-Eastern states on Friday. Advocate Gaurav Agrawal was asked to make his submissions for the High Courts of Rajasthan, Sikkim, and Telangana on February 18.The Court also directed the law secretaries and registrars of the concerned States to interact amongst themselves so that a comprehensive position is given to the amicus curiae..The Court further asked the counsel representing the Central government to get instructions on the issue of funding, after serious concerns over the same were raised by another counsel in Court. .Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.