e-Sewa Kendra

• 24 Dec 2020

Why in News

Recently, an e-Sewa Kendra was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) at the High Court of Tripura.

Key Points

• e-Seva Kendra:
  
  • e-Seva Kendras have been created in the High Courts and in one District Court in each State on a pilot basis.
  • They are dedicated to serve as a one-stop center for all legal aid and assistance for common litigants and advocates.
  • It enables litigants to obtain information with respect to case status and to obtain copies of judgments and orders.
  • These centres also extend assistance in e-filing of cases.
  • These Kendras represent a significant step for the common man and his right to access to justice.
• Other Technological Initiatives to Provide Legal Services:
  
  • Tele-Law:
    
    • About: Tele-Law programme was launched by the Ministry of Law and Justice in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in 2017 to address cases at pre–litigation stage.
    • Connect Lawyers to Litigants: It is a service that uses video conferencing facilities and telephone services to connect lawyers to litigants who need legal advice. This service aims to reach out to the needy especially the marginalized and disadvantaged.
    • Common Service Centres: Under this programme, smart technology of video conferencing, telephone/instant calling facilities available at the vast network of Common Service Centres at the Panchayat level are used to connect the indigent, down-trodden, vulnerable, unreached groups and communities with the Panel Lawyers for seeking timely and valuable legal advice.
  • e-Courts Project:
    
    • The e-Courts project was conceptualized on the basis of the National Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Indian Judiciary – 2005. It is a pan-India Project, monitored and funded by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice.
    • Objectives of the Project:
      
      1. To provide efficient & time-bound citizen-centric services delivery as detailed in e-Court Project Litigant's Charter.
      2. To develop, install & implement decision support systems in courts.
      3. To automate the processes to provide transparency and accessibility of information to its stakeholders.
      4. To enhance judicial productivity, both qualitatively & quantitatively, to make the justice delivery system affordable, accessible, cost-effective, predictable, reliable and transparent.

Source: IE