The Supreme Court has directed all High Courts to ensure proper and regular digitisation of lower court records in all criminal trials and civil suits. The Court emphasized that technology has become increasingly essential in dispute resolution and adjudication, and digitisation of records is necessary for a smooth judicial process.
The Registrar General of the High Courts is tasked with ensuring that all District Courts undertake the digitisation of records in a timely manner. Once digitised, the concerned District Judge must promptly verify the records.
The Court also instructed for a continually updated record of register of records digitized to be maintained with periodic reports sent to the High Courts for further directions. The directions came in an appeal against a November 2022 Allahabad High Court verdict, where the petitioner was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act for receiving a bribe of ₹500 in 1995.
The conviction was set aside by the top court as the records of the lower court were not available, thus violating the petitioner's fundamental rights.
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TAGS: Supreme Court High Courts digitisation criminal trial civil suit records lower court Standard Operating Procedure violation of fundamental rights Prevention of Corruption Act right to life and liberty Article 21.
