Chief Justice of India Unveils E-DHCR Portal: A Major Leap In Digital Legal Access, Inclusivity
(Judicial Quest News Network)
New Delhi 5, August,2024
On Monday, Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud inaugurated the E-DHCR portal, a state-of-the-art platform designed to enhance the accessibility and dissemination of legal judgments from the Delhi High Court. This initiative represents a significant advancement in the way legal knowledge is shared and utilized, aiming to make landmark judgments and legal precedents readily available to anyone with internet access.
The launch event, attended by Supreme Court Justice Abhay S. Oka, Delhi High Court Acting Chief Justice Manmohan Singh, and Justice Yashwant Verma—Chairman of the E-DHCR Committee—saw the presence of numerous judges from both the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court.
In his address, CJI Chandrachud emphasized that the E-DHCR portal is more than just a technological upgrade. It represents a profound shift towards the democratic dissemination of legal knowledge. “This portal is designed not merely as a tool for case management but as a robust platform for the digital publication of judgments of public importance,” he stated. He noted that the E-DHCR portal reimagines the workflow of justice, reinforcing our commitment to making justice accessible, fair-minded, and grounded in fundamental principles of equity.
CJI Chandrachud highlighted that the portal marks the end of outdated practices such as long queues and laborious filing processes. He pointed out that the E-DHCR portal will follow the model of the Supreme Court’s E-SCR portal, which provides judgments free of subscription fees. This digital transformation is a critical step towards inclusivity, streamlining processes, and removing barriers that previously impeded access to justice.
The E-DHCR portal is set to become an invaluable resource for legal professionals, researchers, academics, and students. CJI Chandrachud emphasized that this initiative sets new standards for transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in the legal field. He urged continued support for technological advancements that enhance the accessibility and efficiency of the justice system, stressing the need for the judiciary to adapt to these transformative changes.
Chief Justice Manmohan Singh of the Delhi High Court detailed that the E-DHCR portal will host all reported judgments from 1968 onwards in HTML format, including key issues and findings. Advanced AI search functionalities and voice search options have been incorporated to improve search accuracy and navigation through legal information. Additionally, the portal has translated 16,435 pages of judicial records into both English and Hindi, using Vidhik Anuvad software to cater to diverse language preferences.
Justice Singh also highlighted that the portal would support young lawyers and students who face financial challenges and language barriers. By providing access to comprehensive legal research tools, the E-DHCR portal aims to level the playing field and support those interested in the law but previously hindered by costly research software.
Justice Abhay S. Oka concluded the event by urging the High Court to disseminate information about the portal to district court bar associations and law schools in the national capital, ensuring that young lawyers can fully benefit from this innovative resource.
