The training programme was inaugurated by Justice Javed Iqbal Wani, Member of the Governing Committee for J&K Judicial Academy, in the presence of Anoop Sharma, Registrar Computers, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, and U.K. Jalali, Senior Advocate, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, who served as resource persons in the training programme.
In his inaugural address, Justice Javed Iqbal Wani highlighted that the e-Courts Project is a Mission Mode Project of the Government of India aimed at transforming the Indian Judiciary by implementing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in its functioning.
The eCourts project aims to provide a litigant-centric, affordable, accessible, efficient, cost-effective, transparent, and accountable justice delivery system in a time-bound manner. The services under the project cater to all key stakeholders, including the High Courts, the District and Subordinate Courts, and the citizens, litigants, lawyers, and advocates. The automation of Case Management has increased visibility and helps courts in the speedier disposal of cases.
Y.P. Bourney, Director of J&K Judicial Academy, presented the welcome address and gave an overview of the programme. He stated that technology has proven to be a significant accelerant in almost all aspects of human lives, including the dispensation of justice, and e-courts represent a more viable alternative to conventional courts, utilizing technology to facilitate legal proceedings.
He underlined that the primary benefit of e-courts is their accessibility from the remotest location, allowing individuals from far-flung areas or those unable to physically attend court to still avail legal remedies. He stated that e-Courts have the potential to revolutionize the administration of justice, particularly for underprivileged and marginalized communities facing barriers to traditional court systems, by reshaping access to justice and enhancing efficiency, transparency, and fairness.
The first technical session was chaired by Anoop Sharma, who introduced the e-Courts Project and educated advocates about e-initiatives and management tools under e-Courts for advocates. The session covered topics such as e-filing, e-Filling Portal, registration of advocates on the e-filing portal, and the process of e-filing.
In the second technical session, U.K. Jalali emphasized the importance of strong advocacy skills and adherence to professional ethics for advocates to effectively represent their clients and uphold the justice system. He encouraged continuous improvement in both skills and ethical conduct through training programs, feedback from peers, and reflection on practice.
Advocates actively participated in all sessions, sharing experiences, discussing various aspects of the subject topics, and raising queries, which were satisfactorily addressed by the resource persons.