Fast and Secured Transmission of Electronic Records (FASTER) System

• 24 Sep 2021

Why in News

Recently, in a major reform, the Supreme Court has given the go-ahead to implement a system for electronic transmission of its orders.

• It will ensure effective implementation of Article 21 (right to life).
• Earlier, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based portal ‘SUPACE’ in the judicial system aimed at assisting judges with legal research.

Key Points

• About:
  
  • The system proposes transmission of e-authenticated copies of interim orders, stay orders, bail orders and record of proceedings to the duty-holders for compliance and due execution, through a secured electronic communication channel.
• Need:
  
  • There have been cases where the plight of jail inmates are not released despite bail orders passed by this court due to delay in communication of such orders.
  • So, it was needed to utilise information and communication technology tools for efficient transmission of court’s orders.
• Significance:
  
  • Ensure that undertrials are not made to wait for days on end behind bars to be released because the certified hard copies of their bail orders took time to reach the prison.
    
    • Undertrials are the people who are yet to be found guilty of the crimes they have been accused of.
  • Prevent unnecessary arrests and custody of people even after the court had already granted them its protection.
  • Communicate a stay on an execution ordered by the final court on time.
• Challenges:
  
  • The availability of internet connection in jails across the nation as without this facility transmission of such orders to prisons will not be possible.

Source: TH