CHENNAI: A series of modernisation efforts such as electronic display boards, interactive voice response system, digitisation and e-filing of records and digital signatures of judicial officers would be put in place by the Madras High Court to clear the huge backlog of cases, Chief Justice A.P. Shah said on Sunday.

The display boards, to become operational by December, would be placed outside courtrooms as well as at the High Court entrance. The status of cases would be posted online and digitisation of court records would commence in January. Digital signatures would enable judicial officers to send e-copies and summons.

Litigants would also be able to know the status of their cases through SMS. Connectivity would be established with other departments and computer training would be imparted to all judicial officers.

"In the IT-driven communication revolution era, our methodology is still very outdated. The modernisation measures will ensure cleaner, faster and more transparent courtrooms,'' Justice Shah said delivering the Law Day address during a programme organised jointly by the Madras Bar Association, the Madras High Court Advocates Association, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court Bar Association, the Women Lawyers' Association and the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

Making a case for computerisation and digitisation of all court operations in the State, he said the need for e-governance in the judiciary had never been more keenly felt than now when as many as 3,07,813 cases were pending before the High Court, including its Madurai bench. The huge backlog was due to staff shortage and lack of infrastructure.

"Only a corruption-free judiciary can ensure the basic rights of citizens and corruption should be defeated at all levels of the judiciary. Corrupt judicial officers, including judges and members of the Bar Association must be exposed and punished,'' he said.

Credibility crisis

The Indian judicial system had been undergoing a credibility crisis in the last few decades due to the disturbing frequency of strikes and boycotts by lawyers, one reason why there were so many cases pending. "More judicial appointments, budgetary allocation and additional infrastructure are needed to clear this backlog,'' the Chief Justice said.

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