Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Supreme Court of India on January 28 at the Supreme Court auditorium in Delhi. During the event, he launched citizen-centric information and technology initiatives, including Digital Supreme Court Reports (Digi SCR), Digital Courts 2.0, and the new bilingual website of the Supreme Court.
Prime Minister’s Address
In his address, Prime Minister Modi congratulated everyone for marking the beginning of the Supreme Court’s 75th year and acknowledged the Constitution of India entering its 75th year. He highlighted the significance of the Supreme Court in upholding the principles of freedom, equality, and justice, emphasizing its role in strengthening India’s democracy.
Vision for the Future
Prime Minister Modi outlined the goals for the next 25 years, stressing that current economic policies and laws will shape India’s vibrant future. He emphasized the importance of capitalizing on opportunities, focusing on ease of living, ease of doing business, travel, communication, and ease of justice as the nation’s top priorities.
Judicial Accessibility
The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to making the Supreme Court accessible to remote areas through the E-Courts Mission Project. He noted the increased fund allocation for the third phase and expressed satisfaction with the digitization efforts, monitored by the Chief Justice of India.
Infrastructure Development
Acknowledging issues with the current Supreme Court building, Prime Minister Modi informed about the recent approval of Rs 800 crore for the expansion of the Supreme Court Building Complex. He reiterated the government’s commitment to improving the physical infrastructure of courts and mentioned the allocation of over 7000 crore rupees since 2014.
Digital Initiatives
Prime Minister Modi expressed happiness about the digital initiatives, including the availability of decisions in a digital format and the translation of Supreme Court decisions into local languages. He highlighted the use of AI for real-time translation and suggested a similar approach in drafting court judgments for better understanding.
Legal Framework and Modernization
The Prime Minister emphasized the need for Indian laws to reflect both Indian ethos and contemporary practices. He mentioned the government’s initiatives in abolishing outdated colonial criminal laws and introducing new legislation to align with the present situation and best practices.
Capacity Building and Justice System
Prime Minister Modi underscored the importance of a robust justice system for a developed India. He highlighted efforts to create a reliable legal framework, reduce pending cases, and introduce alternative dispute resolution through mediation.
Conclusion
Prime Minister Modi concluded by acknowledging the Supreme Court’s significant role in shaping the country’s future over the next 25 years, expressing pride in conferring Padma Bhushan posthumously to M. Fathima Beevi.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What occasion did Prime Minister Modi inaugurate on January 28?
a. Republic Day
b. Independence Day
c. Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Supreme Court
d. Constitution Day
Answer: c. Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Supreme Court - Which technology initiatives were launched during the event?
a. Digital Supreme Court Reports (Digi SCR)
b. Digital Courts 2.0
c. New website of the Supreme Court
d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above - What is the objective of the Digital Supreme Court Reports (Digi SCR)?
a. Provide legal consultation
b. Make Supreme Court judgments available in electronic format
c. Facilitate online court proceedings
d. Manage court records
Answer: b. Make Supreme Court judgments available in electronic format - Which language formats are available on the new website of the Supreme Court?
a. English only
b. Hindi only
c. Bilingual in English and Hindi
d. Multilingual support
Answer: c. Bilingual in English and Hindi - What initiative under the e-Courts project aims to make court records available to district court judges electronically?
a. Digital Supreme Court Reports (Digi SCR)
b. Digital Courts 2.0
c. E-Courts Mission Project
d. AI for Real-time Transcription
Answer: b. Digital Courts 2.0