New Delhi: In a move that will digitalize the functioning of the Supreme Court, the integrated case management information system (ICMIS) was launched on Wednesday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an event attended by chief justice of India J.S. Khehar and other eminent judges.
The new system, aimed at serving as a digital repository for case-related information, can be accessed here.
Its functions include the option of e-filing cases, checking listing dates, case status, online service of notice/summons, office reports and overall tracking of progress of a case filed with the apex court registry.
It is also proposed that it will operate as an online gateway for payment of court fee and process fee. Other features offered under the new system include an online court fee calculator. This is bound to streamline the filing process for both the advocates and the registry.
“I believe, as a system, it will ensure transparency, provide easy access to case information and help in reducing the time in filing pleadings. Every part of the filing process will now be monitored, there will be timelines,” said CJI Khehar.
All records of a particular case—at various stages—at the district court or high court will be integrated with the system to offer the complete record in digital form. In the future, linking of jail inmates and under-trials may be integrated into the system making it more holistic.
Lauded the advent of technology, Modi said, “The software or hardware has never been a problem. It is the mindset that is a problem. Only when we try to truly embrace technology, its benefits can percolate further.”
His commitment to technology-based innovation was backed by law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who said that such initiatives were part of a larger narrative of a digitally empowered society.
On 20 April, the law ministry launched three technology-backed initiatives for offering legal aid to the marginalised, poor and vulnerable communities. These included pro-bono legal services, a tele-law service and ‘Nyaya Mitra’ scheme.