‘Computers and robots taking over the judiciary a concern’

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 8

Amidst brainstorming discussions and sessions on exploring new horizons in technology and computerisation for taking justice to doorsteps through e-Courts concept, a voice of concern on computers taking over the judiciary with robots sitting on the seat of judgment was heard loud and clear today.

Attending the inaugural session of the second national conference of the Computer Committees of the High Courts, Supreme Court Judge Justice Hemant Gupta said infusion of information and communication technology into the judicial system initially faced resistance and every initiative had its critics. But it should not be a deterrent and prevent the passing on of the benefit to the people.

Justice Gupta said 10 crore pages of the Punjab and Haryana High Court record stood scanned after overcoming initial hiccups. Other steps, too, were initiated for bringing about a complete transformation during the journey of the judicial system from ‘Courts to e-Courts’. The advent of computerisation led to reduction of corruption among the ministerial staff in the judiciary with things such as copies of petition available online. It also brought about a greater transparency.

The Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, Justice Surya Kant, too insisted that the judicial institution, like any other, was required to adopt and evolve with the times and ensure all those arriving at the portal for redressal of their grievances were granted greater access.

Red flagging the issue of overdependence of judiciary on computers, Chief Justice Surya Kant asserted: “It is now largely perceived that computerisation has become an avoidable source of cut and paste judgments. The old practices of appreciation of case laws with reference to the facts of a particular case have silently disappeared…”

“My worry is against the development of such software where judicial officers concluding the facts of the case will get an automated judgment prepared by the software. My second concern is that if e-technology would be allowed to overpower the judicial field without any ‘Lakshman Rekha’, are we marching towards a stage of engaging robots in place of judicial officers?”

Terming the e-Courts project as a giant leap towards the fulfilment of constitutional obligation of providing justice to the citizens at their doorsteps, Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Krishna Murari appreciated the efforts of Justice Rajesh Bindal as the head of the computer committee before his transfer to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

Organising committee chairman Justice Mahesh Grover said the life of citizens was being transformed while extending vote of thanks to all dignitaries.

Computer committee chairman Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan asserted the conference had been organised to further exchange ideas for improvements and innovations. All speakers acknowledged the contribution made by Justice Madan B Lokur of the Supreme Court in making the e-Courts project a great success.