Supreme Court Rejects Plea to Include Tribunals in e-Courts Project

The Supreme Court has rejected a plea to include tribunals such as the Armed Forces Tribunal and the National Green Tribunal in the e-courts project, which aims to upgrade the digital infrastructure of courts across India. The petitioner has been advised to approach the Department of Justice for reconsideration.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea seeking to include tribunals in the e-courts project aimed at upgrading the digital infrastructure of courts across the country.

The public interest litigation (PIL) argued that quasi-judicial panels like the Armed Forces Tribunal and the National Green Tribunal should be integrated into the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG).

The NJDG is a part of the e-courts project, which focuses on the computerisation of the nation's judiciary and is managed by the Department of Justice under the Law Ministry. It serves as a national repository of data on court cases across the country.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud suggested the petitioners approach the Department of Justice, emphasizing that the NJDG currently addresses district courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court, but not tribunals. The bench clarified it cannot alter the scope of the project.

'Rs 7,000 crore was allocated for courts, not tribunals,' the bench noted, highlighting the absence of administrative sanction for tribunals under the current e-courts project funding structure. The petitioner was advised to explore other legal remedies and approach the central government for the computerisation of tribunals.

(With inputs from agencies.)