India’s first-ever e-resource center Nyay Kaushal was inaugurated in the city of Nagpur by the Chief Justice of India, Sharad Arvind Bobde. The inauguration ceremony took place on Saturday i.e. 31st October 2020. Chief Justice of India Bobde said how the Covid-19 pandemic had created a huge challenge for physical hearings and subsequent virtual hearings could not become a proper solution as it created a divide between those who could afford technology and who couldn’t.
Nyay Kaushal, which was inaugurated by CJI Bobde would be the first e-resource center in the country. It aimed at providing the facility of e-filing of cases in the courts, according to a release by the registrar of the Bombay High Court's Nagpur bench.
It said that"'Nyay Kaushal' E-resource center will facilitate e- filing of cases in the Supreme court of India, any High Court in India and also the District Courts across the country."
“We tried to let the SC function in a restricted way but realized it wasn’t possible to safely continue court in that way... The pandemic was something as if heaven fell. A walk around the Court showed that no social distancing was being maintained. But there is an old saying in law that let justice be done though the heavens may fall. I’m very proud to say that along with my colleagues, we have managed to ensure that the rule of law is maintained,” the CJI said.
While sharing views on advocates who have ended their careers due to the pandemic and many who wanted to end their lives in the aftermath of the pandemic, the CJI said that he knew a case where the advocate resorted to selling vegetables. He added that some states had started mobile vans with portable Wifi, where litigants and Advocates could use the Wifi for hearings. He said that it was time to remove these inequalities and this center i.e. Nyay Kaushal which was inaugurated on Saturday is the step in that direction.
The center that was inaugurated on Saturday will facilitate the filing of online cases starting from district courts to the high courts and the Supreme Court.
Reports have stated that the internet speed in 300 MBPS and the hearing room has been made soundproof and there is also a facility of a waiting room.
