The International Judicial Conference 2020 took place from February 21st to 23rd in New Delhi, with central discussions revolving around Gender Justice, Constitutional Values, Dynamic Interpretations of the Constitution, Environment Protection, Sustainable Development, and the Protection of Right to Privacy in the Internet Age. Organized by the Supreme Court of India, the conference’s theme was ‘Judiciary and the Changing World’.
Conference Highlights
One notable aspect highlighted at the conference was the commendation received by Indian judiciary for its harmonization between development and environment, as well as its guidance in this area. For instance, their judgement on the Sardar Sarovar Project was cited.
The Supreme Court’s effort to make its judgments more accessible was also acknowledged. They achieved this by providing the judgements in nine vernacular languages, which caters to the country’s linguistic diversity.
Gender justice was another crucial topic discussed at the conference, with recent directives for granting equal status to women in the Army and guidelines for preventing sexual harassment at the workplace receiving praise.
The Global Impact of the Indian Judiciary
The Chief Justice of India highlighted that the judgments given by the Supreme Court not only have an impact domestically, but also serve other countries as significant reference points. These have been instrumental especially for independent and developing nations.
The Role of Technology in the Judicial System
The conference underlined the necessity of employing technology to deliver speedy justice. The Indian Government is striving to connect all courts in the country through the E-court Integrated Mission Mode Project. The establishment of the National Judicial Data Grid aims to streamline court procedures.
However, contemporary issues such as data protection and cyber crimes pose new challenges for the judiciary.
Insight into the E-court Integrated Mission Mode Project
The E-Courts Project, based on the “National Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Indian Judiciary – 2005”, was proposed by the e-Committee of the Supreme Court of India and established in 2004.
The project’s objectives include providing efficient, time-bound citizen-centric service delivery, implementing decision support systems in courts, automating processes for transparency, and enhancing judicial productivity. By doing this, the justice delivery system becomes affordable, accessible, cost-effective, and transparent.
The National Judicial Data Grid: Revolutionizing Judicial Processes
Launched in 2015, the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) is a part of the E-Courts Integrated Mission Mode Project. The NJDG serves as a national data repository for case data, including the orders and judgments for courts across the country.
This platform aids in identifying, managing, and reducing pendency of cases. It offers crucial input for policy decisions intended to reduce delay and arrears in the system. This facilitates better monitoring of court performance, identifies systemic bottlenecks, and improves resource management.
Notably, the NJDG has helped India improve its standing in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report.
