The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently issued a stern directive regarding persistent technical issues plaguing its website, which have notably disrupted court operations, particularly in the realm of e-hearings. On September 8, a bench comprising Justices Vivek Agarwal and Avanindra Kumar Singh expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the website, emphasizing the loss of judicial time due to the inadequacies of the IT staff.
Court’s Directive Against IT Wing
The court instructed the Chief Justice to initiate action against the IT staff responsible for the website’s inefficiencies. The bench stated, “The High Court Website is not supporting e-hearings. Several glitches have been identified. Registrar (ITCSA) Mr. KS Kushwaha has been requested to assist, yet the incompetence observed warrants serious action. Let the Hon’ble Chief Justice address this issue with the concerned IT staff.”
Enquiry and Audit Ordered
The bench further mandated a comprehensive enquiry by the IT Registrar of the High Court to identify obstacles impeding smooth court operations. The enquiry report is required to be submitted within a seven-day timeframe. Additionally, the court decreed that a professional audit be conducted by a team of experts from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, and L&T Technology Services to thoroughly evaluate the IT system of the High Court.
Concerns Raised During Hearing
The order was pronounced during a hearing unrelated to the website issue, specifically concerning a criminal case involving bail and sentence suspension. During this hearing, lawyers vocalized their dissatisfaction with the new, non-functional website, indicating that the previous version performed better.
Furthermore, the court highlighted a message shared by the acting Chief Justice on a messaging platform, which communicated that the website’s update would require eight days, a timeframe that had already lapsed without satisfactory improvements.
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On-Site Verification and Persistent Issues
Upon the arrival of IT Registrar Kushwaha in court, the bench personally verified the website’s performance, observing ongoing buffering and hanging issues even in his presence.
In light of these challenges, the court underscored the necessity for an IT audit, appointing expert teams from TCS, Infosys, and L&T Technology Services to conduct an independent evaluation within 30 days. The court also suggested including officers from C-DOT (Centre For Development Of Telematics) and MASSCOM in the audit process.
