Cuttack: Virtual courts have been opened in Bargarh, Boudh, Deogarh, Gajapati, Jharsuguda, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Sonepur, taking the total to 30 covering all districts of Odisha.
Acting Chief Justice of Orissa High Court BR Sarangi inaugurated these 10 courts in virtual mode from Cuttack in the presence of all other judges, on Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion, the Acting Chief Justice said that these courts have improved access to justice for the people of Odisha. “Apart from enabling the district court lawyers to take part in filing and hearing of cases, the virtual courts will reduce costs to the litigants, increase efficiency and ensure speedy justice,” he said adding that it will accelerate the adaptation of technology in the judiciary in the country with Odisha leading the way.
In the first phase, the Orissa High Court had started virtual high courts at Sambalpur, Balangir, Rourkela, Bhawanipatna, Jeypore, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Balasore and Bhadrak on February 3. Virtual high courts were opened at Angul, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kandhamal (Phulbani), Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj (Baripada), Nayagarh and Sundargarh, in the second phase.
Virtual courts allow litigants and their lawyers to appear before the high court from their respective districts without having to come all the way to Cuttack. These also facilitate the listing of cases, including mentioning before the court in virtual mode, scrutiny of e-filed cases, removal of defects, numbering of the cases and submission of applications for and issuance of certified copies of the orders and judgments.
Till September 2023, a total 1,514 of cases were e-filed and disposed of, 2,550 virtual hearings done and 670 applications for online certified copies has been received and 1,161 online mention memos have been filed.
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