URL: http://www.ejustice.org.in

Contact Person(s): Dr. Rajiv Sharma, IAS, Director General, Centre for Good Governance, help@ejustice.org.in, info@ejustice.org.in

Project Period: 2005-2006

Partner(s): National Institute for Smart Government (NISG) & Centre for Good Governance (CGG)

The objectives of this project are:

• promoting legal awareness through an electronic interface by presenting the key legislations in a simple manner and by simplifying relevant judgments and certain procedural regulations; and enlightening citizens on the existence of alternative remedies and making the same available to the general public through information kiosks, rural e-Seva centres etc.
• coordinating with other actors and involve their participation so as to create a framework integrating the existing state and non-state actors in the administration of justice
• providing a feedback mechanism and elicit suggestions from people

The e-Justice project targets to generate awareness among rural citizens about the existence of various support agencies and groups namely Legal Aid Cells, the Legal Services Authority, social workers (counsellors) and other activists. The target beneficiaries are citizens accessing Mandal Samakhyas, Mandal/Taluk Legal Services Authorities, rural e-Seva centres, Civil Society Groups and the legally marginalized. The approach is to conceptualize relevant legislation, its administration and remediation of problems involved in a simple and citizen-friendly manner, and communicate the same, using ICT.

Achievements

Shadnagar is the first Mandal in Andhra Pradesh to provide legal services through an information kiosk. Presently, 2 kiosk operators are offering legal services.

Access to justice has become easier now for the Indian citizens. Now Petitions to the Supreme Court of India can be filed online by the Petitioner in person or by the Advocate on record. The user has to register with the website www.supremecourtofindia.nic.in and get a password. This will help in maintaining secrecy and prevent tampering of documents. The Petitioner in person has to prove his/her identity by giving documentary proof by way of a ration card or a PAN card or a Driving license or a voter ID card.

Every case filed online will be given a unique reference number. Errors in applications will be communicated over the Internet. Rectification of such errors can also be done through the email by using the reference number given for the matter. Notices and other communications to parties will be sent through email wherever email ID has been provided. The matter pertaining to the case must conform to the Supreme Court rules. Court fees and printing charges must be paid using a credit or a debit card.

The e-Justice portal (www.ejustice.org.in) which has already been launched provides lot of information related to human rights and issues frequently raised in the citizens’ life, especially in the rural areas of India. The website is in English and the regional language, Telugu. The portal provides links to various commissions such as the Human Rights Commissions, National Women’s Commission, Backward Classes Commission, Scheduled Caste/Tribe Commission etc, enabling a citizen to file a complaint directly to them for appropriate action. Thus the e-Justice portal provides an interface wherein the citizen is made aware of the legal information and also facilitates access to justice delivery mechanism for redressal of his problem in an effective manner.