Question : USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN JUDICIARY

(a) the present status of ongoing pilot project on Video Conferencing (VC) facility between Courts and prisons to facilitate hearing of the undertrial prisoners in the country,

(b) the time by which VC facility is likely to be rolled out in other locations in the country;

(c) whether the Government proposes to install touch screen kiosks in court complex for accessing case status and court orders etc. and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government also proposes to telecast the proceedings of Supreme Court and High Courts; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to bring more transparency in the judiciary?

MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI D. V. SADANANDA GOWDA)

a) to b) The pilot project on Video Conferencing (VC) facility to facilitate hearing of the under trial prisoners in the country has been successfully implemented at 5 locations (5 court complexes and corresponding 5 prisons). National Informatics Centre (NIC), the implementing agency of the project, is in the process of rolling-out VC facility in the remaining 495 locations by 31st March, 2015.

c) The provisioning of touch-screen Information Kiosks in court complexes is not covered in the ongoing eCourts project. However, it has been included in the Phase II of eCourts project.

d) No, Madam.

e) Under the eCourts project, data relating to court cases and judgements orders is being uploaded on the district court websites. Thus, litigants and lawyers are now able to access information relating to case registration, case status, cause list, daily orders and final orders and judgements.