The News Freedom
New Delhi, January 28
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced the approval of Rs 800 crore for the expansion of the Supreme Court building complex, addressing the challenges faced by the current infrastructure. Addressing the gathering, Modi reiterated the government’s commitment to enhancing the physical infrastructure of courts and highlighted that over Rs 7000 crore has already been allocated for this purpose since 2014.
Inaugurating the digital initiatives of the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the availability of decisions in a digital format. He also lauded the commencement of translating Supreme Court decisions into local languages and expressed hope for similar initiatives across the country’s courts.
Modi underscored the role of technology in facilitating justice and mentioned the real-time translation of his address into English using AI, accessible through the Bhashini app. He acknowledged potential initial challenges but emphasized the broader technological horizons it opens, suggesting similar technological implementations in lower courts for the benefit of the common people.
Referring to his previous suggestions for drafting laws in simple language, Modi recommended a similar approach to drafting court judgments and orders, aiming for greater public understanding.
Emphasizing the integration of Indian values and modernity in the legal framework, the Prime Minister stressed the government’s ongoing efforts to modernize laws to align with contemporary practices. He highlighted initiatives such as abolishing outdated colonial criminal laws and introducing new legislation.
Modi outlined the government’s commitment to a seamless transition from old laws to new statutes, emphasizing the importance of capacity-building for officials involved in the transition. He urged the Supreme Court to engage in similar capacity-building initiatives for all stakeholders.
Addressing the role of a robust justice system in a developed India, Modi discussed the enactment of the Jan Vishwas Bill and provisions for alternative dispute resolution through mediation, contributing to reducing the burden on the judiciary.
Inaugurating the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Supreme Court of India, the Prime Minister launched citizen-centric information and technology initiatives, including Digital Supreme Court Reports (Digi SCR), Digital Courts 2.0, and a new Supreme Court website.
Congratulating everyone on the occasion, Modi expressed gratitude for the presence at the 75th-year celebration of the Supreme Court, noting the significance of the Indian Constitution entering its 75th year. He commended the Supreme Court’s efforts in preserving the principles of freedom, equality, and justice.
Reflecting on India’s global standing, Modi emphasized the need to capitalize on opportunities in ease of living, ease of doing business, travel, communication, and ease of justice. He reiterated the right of every Indian citizen to ease of justice and commended the Chief Justice of India’s efforts in monitoring the digitization of all courts in the country. The Prime Minister announced increased funding for the third phase of the E-Courts Mission Project, emphasizing the government’s commitment to making the Supreme Court accessible even in remote areas.