Supreme Court Declines PIL On Tribunal Integration Into National Judicial Data Grid

In a notable judicial decision, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the integration of various statutory tribunals into the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) on Wednesday.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, emphasized the absence of administrative approval under the e-courts project for reallocating funds to encompass tribunals.

Chief Justice Chandrachud, along with Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, suggested that the petitioner could explore other legal remedies and approach the government with his concerns.

The NJDG portal, a significant component of the e-Courts initiative, offers a detailed database of cases filed, pending, and resolved across the judicial system.

Despite the Supreme Court’s integration with NJDG, advocate K C Jain, the petitioner, argued that the inclusion of tribunals is essential for enhancing transparency, accountability, and oversight in the judicial process.

“Tribunals play a vital role within the justice system. Directing the Department of Justice to incorporate tribunals into the NJDG would greatly further the cause of justice and transform the judicial landscape,” the plea stated.

In a related context, CJI Chandrachud announced last September that the NJDG would provide real-time access to Supreme Court case details.

“With a single click, statistical data on case filings, disposals, and pendency will be available,” he highlighted.

As the Supreme Court refrains from immediate intervention, the broader discussion on integrating tribunals into the NJDG persists, reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and transparency of India’s judicial infrastructure.

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