Chief justice of India Surya Kant on Monday announced the launch of a major digital initiative to integrate judicial data across courts nationwide and improve public access to court-related services through technology-driven systems.
Making the announcement at the outset of the day’s proceedings in the Supreme Court, the CJI says the judiciary is commencing the 'one case one data' initiative, a comprehensive digital platform designed to integrate case-related information from the Supreme Court, high courts, district courts and taluka courts into a unified system.
“We are commencing the ‘one case one data’ initiative with multi-level information of all high courts, district and taluka court details embedded. We look forward to developing an efficient case management system. We are also launching SuSahayak, an assisting chat box with our website, which will aid in ensuring access to justice,” the CJI says.
The initiative marks one of the most significant technology integration initiatives undertaken by the Indian judiciary and is expected to streamline case management by creating a seamless flow of judicial information across different levels of the judiciary.
Explaining the scope of the project, the chief justice says that for the first time, the entire judicial data network would be interconnected, enabling courts at all levels to access relevant case information digitally.
“For the first time, the entire data will now be integrated, and while sitting in the Supreme Court, we will have complete details up to the district court and taluka courts, and similarly, taluka courts will also have all the connectivity here,” he says.
According to the chief justice, the system has been developed to strengthen the Supreme Court’s case management framework through multi-level integration with court and government databases.
The new module will automate the retrieval of information from various court databases and facilitate faster online verification of case-related records.
“This new module will automate data retrieval from the concerned courts’ database and facilitate swift online verification of case-related information. Reciprocal access to case information shall also be provided to High Courts and Government departments as and when required. This would ensure data integrity, enhance accuracy and transparency,” the CJI says.
The integration could significantly reduce procedural delays arising from manual verification and fragmented judicial records while improving coordination between courts.
Alongside the integrated case management system, the Supreme Court also launched SuSahayak, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) in collaboration with the Supreme Court registry.
The AI assistant has been integrated into the Supreme Court website and is intended to help litigants, lawyers and citizens navigate court services more efficiently.
“We are also launching ‘SuSahayak’, an assisting chatbot for our website, developed by NIC in collaboration with the Registry. This will provide a simple and convenient interface for citizens to seek prompt front-end guidance and assistance in accessing essential e-services of the Court,” the CJI says.
The chatbot is expected to provide quick assistance regarding case status, filing procedures, court services and other digital facilities available through the Supreme Court’s online platform.
The launch of the two digital initiatives forms part of the judiciary’s broader push towards technology-enabled justice delivery and digital governance in courts.
Chief justice Kant also acknowledged the role of registry officials, technical teams and members of the Bar in implementing the projects.
“My best wishes to the registry and to the officers who have done this commendable job. I am quite confident that these initiatives will prove beneficial for all stakeholders,” he says.
The initiatives come amid increasing emphasis within the judiciary on digitisation, e-filing systems, virtual hearings and technology-assisted court administration following the accelerated digital transformation witnessed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
In recent years, the apex court has expanded multiple e-governance measures aimed at improving transparency, reducing pendency and making justice delivery more accessible to litigants across the country.
