Pb, Hry HC launches IT initiatives for litigants

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Sunday launched a slew of IT-based initiatives to facilitate the litigants and lawyers.

Justice Krishna Murari, Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court unveiled the IT initiatives namely e-Payment of High Court services, android based mobile application, online grievance and feedback system, surety information management system, infrastructure web application and crystal reports software and eNotices.

As these applications were developed by the officials working in the High Court and District Courts, the Chief Justice invited the officials concerned to press the launching button of their respective IT projects.

On the occasion, Justice Krishna Murari appreciated their efforts and hoped that more and more officials will contribute to provide IT solutions for use by the Courts, litigants and lawyers.

To follow up the steps taken at an earlier meeting held in May, an interactive session was also held with all the District and Sessions Judges from the states of Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh at Chandigarh Judicial Academy wherein issues pertaining to pendency of cases, ways and means for early disposal of cases, prioritizing disposal of cases relating to crime against women and children, cases under NDPS Act etc. were discussed, said an official spokesman.

Justice Rajesh Bindal, Justice PB Bajanthri, Justice Rajbir Sehrawat, Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu, Justice Sudhir Mittal, Advocate Generals from the states of Punjab and Haryana, DGP Punjab, DG (HQ) Haryana, DGP Chandigarh, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India, office bearers of Punjab & Haryana Bar Association etc. were also present on the occasion.

In collaboration with State Bank of India and for benefits of litigants, a payment gateway was launched for online transfer of money, wherever money is required to be deposited in Court for any services, through Multi Option Payment System (MOPS).  A facility will also be added for payment of other charges through internet banking debit/credit cards, the spokesman said.

He said that special pre-paid cards shall also be issued by the bank for payment of any charges in the High Court as well as District Courts in the States of Punjab and Haryana, such as copying, inspection etc.

An android based mobile application has also been launched. Any person interested can download the same from Google play store. It will make easier for any person or litigant interested to have any information about a court case to access the same.

Giving details of other IT-based initiatives, the spokesman said that as litigant is an important stakeholder in any judicial system, a facility through online grievance and feedback system application is being provided to the litigants and general public to give their feedback and suggestions online.

To identify persons who furnish surety in criminal or civil matters on the basis of fake documents or for consideration, Surety information management system has been developed, which will check the fake sureties and also, the persons who are repeatedly furnishing sureties in different cases, he said.

Through infrastructure web application, the status of Judicial Court Complexes and residential houses and its progress can be monitored. Report generation in subordinate courts in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh through Case Information System 3.0, will get fillip due to introduction of Crystal Reports Software (CCR 3.0) developed by officials from District Courts. With the aforesaid module, District Judge will be able to monitor progress of cases more effectively, the spokesman said.

He added that with the launching of module for sending e-Notice through Saanjh Kendras in Punjab, speedy delivery of notices upto the concerned Police station level would be ensured.