PRESS NOTE

                        Chandigarh, July 9, 2007: A function to mark the launching of the first phase of e-courts project in the States of Punjab and Haryana was held today at Haryana Niwas, Sector 3, Chandigarh. Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vijender Jain, the Chief Justice presided over the function. Hon'ble Judges of the High Court; District and Sessions Judges from Punjab, Haryana and U.T. Chandigarh; Judicial Officers from Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali; and the trainee Judicial Officers of Chandigarh Judicial Academy attended the function. Also present on the occasion were Shri Lalit Sharma, Advisor to the Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh; Hon'ble Mr. Justice J. S. Narang (Retd.); Director General of Chandigarh Judicial Academy; Shri Hawa Singh Hooda, Advocate General, Haryana; Shri H.S. Mattewal, Advocate General, Punjab and Shri Vivek Attray, Director Haryana Tourism and Director Public Relations, Chandigarh.

                         Hon'ble the Chief Justice presented laptops to five Judicial Officers from the States of Punjab and Haryana as a symbolic gesture. Addressing  the gathering, Hon'ble the Chief Justice said that High Court has received laptops for all the Judicial Officers from e-committee of Supreme Court of India and they would be distributed to all the Judicial Officers very shortly.

                         Earlier welcoming the guests, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Hemant Gupta, Chairman Computer Committee welcomed the Hon'ble Chief Justice and gave the history of computerization in the High Court as well as in the lower Courts. Hon'ble Mr. Justice Hemant Gupta pointed out that efforts are being made in the High Court to modernize the system. He also pointed out that very shortly digital display boards would be installed in the High Court and at other locations at Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali. He also made mention about many other projects which are in the pipeline. Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vijender Jain, the Chief Justice reiterated his commitment to provide latest electronic gadgets and peripherals to all the Judicial Officers. He pointed out that a common litigant has first brush with our judicial system when he approaches the court of a Magistrate. It is, therefore, necessary that an officer who is working at the grassroot level is provided with all the infrastructure so that he may provide qualitative justice to the ultimate consumer of justice, namely, the litigant. Shri Lalit Sharma, Advisor to the Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, who is also a member of the e-society formed for the computerization of the Subordinate Courts in the States of Punjab and Haryana and U.T. Chandigarh expressed happiness that he has been associated with such a project. 

                         Hon'ble Mr. Justice P. Sathasivam, the senior most Judge after the Hon'ble Chief Justice, pointed out as to how information technology can be put to optimum use in the courts. The Hon'ble Judge also made mention about his experiences in respect of computers as a Judge of Madras High Court. The function ended with a vote of thanks by Hon'ble Mr. Justice S. S. Saron, who thanked the Hon'ble Chief Justice and other distinguished guests for taking time off, to share with the Judicial Officers, their happy moments.