Parmanand Pandey
It is bizarre and surprising to learn that Advocates of Allahabad High Court are up in arms over
the e-filing initiative of the High Court from all districts of Uttar Pradesh.
It is beyond any logic that when the whole world is moving with science and technology,
why lawyers are opposed to this welcome decision. It is also learnt that a Special Leave Petition (SLP) has also been filed in the Supreme Court against
the introduction of e-filing.It hardly needs to be stated that the e-filing system in High Courts in India offers several benefits that streamline the legal process and make it more accessible. The keyadvantages are:
Time and Cost Efficiency:
E-filing saves significant time and money for both advocates and clients by
eliminating the need to physically visit the court for filing documents.
Convenience: It allows for the online submission of cases and documents, making the process more convenient and less time-consuming.
Reduced Physical Meetings:
The need for in-person meetings between clients and advocates can be reduced, as much of the communication and document exchange can happen online.
Automatic Digitization:
As documents are filed electronically, they are automatically digitized, which
helps in creating a more efficient record-keeping system
Environmental Impact: By
reducing the reliance on paper, e-filing has a positive impact on the
environment.
Accessibility: The system
is designed to be bilingual (English and local languages), which makes it
accessible to a wider group of advocates and litigants
Portfolio Management:
Litigants and advocates can manage their cases more effectively with an online
portfolio and planner tools provided by the e-filing system.
Online Payments: Court fees
and other payments can be made online, which adds to the convenience and
efficiency of the process.
E-filing represents a significant step towards modernizing the judiciary and making the legal process
more efficient and user-friendly.
In this regard, the Supreme Court in general and the Chief Justice in particular deserve kudos for the use
of greater technology including the increased use of Artificial Intelligence
(AI) in the country. The Advocates are considered to be forward-looking persons
in society and if they behave in such a manner, then it can only be condemned
and chastised.
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Indian courts is an evolving area, with several
applications being explored and implemented to enhance the efficiency and
effectiveness of the judicial system. Here are some key points on the use of AI
in Indian courts: AI in Legal Research and
Administration: AI is currently being used for tasks like automated contract
review, legal research, and transcription services. It helps in processing
information and making it available to judges for decisions.
Translation Services: The Supreme Court of India uses an AI tool called SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik
Anuvaad Software) for translating legal documents between English and
vernacular languages. Case Analysis: In some instances, AI tools like ChatGPT have been used to provide a wider perspective
on legal matters, such as in the case of Jaswinder Singh v. State of Punjab,
where the Punjab & Haryana High Court sought input from ChatGPT for a bail
petition.
Transcription of Hearings:
The Supreme Court has utilized AI for the live transcription of proceedings, which aids in streamlining the administration of justice and could
significantly benefit the district judiciary with increased efficiency.
Future Prospects: There is potential for AI to be used for case prioritization, categorization,
scheduling, docket management, and even predicting outcomes based on records in
the future.
It’s important to note that while AI can assist in various administrative and research tasks, it does not
participate in the court's decision-making process. The human element remains
crucial, especially in matters that involve complex legal reasoning and
interpretation of laws. Integrating AI in the judiciary aims to complement the
work of legal professionals, not replace it.
