The inaugural began with a welcome note by Justice Debangsu Basak, who welcomed the audience and briefly explained the relevance of the two initiatives in representing integration of technology with the judicial system, and enhancing the efficiency of the justice delivery mechanism.
Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam in his inaugural speech discussed the initiative of providing the Judicial Officers with the EBC Reader Platinum Edition. He underscored the crucial role of legal research in the judicial process, particularly in the era of rapid digitization of legal literature, which has made the adoption of advanced digital platforms necessary. Highlighting the increasing volume of legal precedents and statutory developments, he stressed the need for advanced digital platforms to support efficient research and Judicial Officers should be equipped with efficient research tools for delivering well-reasoned and timely decisions.
“The administration of justice is an evolving responsibility, and as the legal landscape expands, so too must our tools and resources.”
“The adoption of technology-driven solutions will reinforce our dedication to delivering justice efficiently while upholding the highest standards of judicial excellence.”
Chief Justice Sivagnanam while highlighting that the features of the EBC Reader Platinum Edition, such as the e-library, and cross-referencing with SCC Online, stated that it would be useful for the Judicial Officers. Stressing on utilisation of such facilities, he remarked that feedback and suggestions could be submitted to the authorities so that EBC could update or upgrade the EBC Reader if required.
“It is interesting to note that it [EBC Reader] has an e-library, which I think many of their competitors do not have, which will be a boon to all of our officers.”
He also remarked that usually, the senior-most District Judges are invited to such events however this time, the youngest judicial officers were invited as brand ambassadors of the EBC Reader so that they could motivate their colleagues and seniors to utilize it. Noting the advancement of technology, even senior advocates aged around 80-years-old have adopted digital technology as they are no longer seen with physical case files but rather with tablets or laptops. Accordingly, the judiciary needed to keep pace with such changes. He also reflected on the plight of the judiciary during the COVID pandemic and how everything was moved online with the use of Microsoft software.
Regarding the inauguration of the Public Information System, Justice Sivagnanam remarked that this was a citizen-centric effort to address the on-ground difficulties faced by litigants.
Lastly, he concluded his speech by expressing his gratitude to the Chairperson and Members of the High Court Computer Committee for their effort and the Registrar General, Registrars, District Judges, and Judicial Officers for being a part of the ceremony.
Concluding the event, Justice Gaurang Kanth delivered the vote of thanks and applauded the significance of the two initiatives in enhancing the accessibility of legal resources for the Judicial Officers, fostering continuous learning and research, and improving access to court-related information.
About Public Information System
Public Information System, within the High Court complex in the form of display boards, will display various information such as exact location of the courtroom, location of different departments, important phone numbers, PBX numbers of the High Court and other useful information. Access to this information will assist in promoting transparency and enhancing overall efficiency of the judicial process.
About EBC Reader Platinum Edition
EBC reader is the largest and most advanced legal e-library which provides its users with access to a large repository of statutes, books, cases, articles and much more. It has various features like auto-updating, an efficient search engine, cross-linking with SCC Online, etc., which are useful for every legal professional.