Raipur: Chhattisgarh High Court Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha stressed the need for a technology-driven, effective and people-centric judicial system while addressing judicial officers at a one-day divisional judicial seminar organised by the Chhattisgarh State Judicial Academy in Raipur on Saturday.
The seminar, held at New Circuit House, Civil Lines, was attended by 141 judicial officers from the four civil districts of Raipur division — Raipur, Dhamtari, Baloda Bazar and Mahasamund.
Justice Sinha, who inaugurated the seminar, emphasised the importance of continuous judicial education and the need for judicial officers to keep themselves updated with changes in law, technology and society.
He said economic offences were becoming increasingly complex with the growing use of online transactions, digital platforms and advanced technology. With the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, significant changes had taken place in the criminal justice system, making it essential for judicial officers to have a clear understanding of new legal provisions and carefully evaluate evidence, he said.
The Chief Justice also highlighted the importance of documentary evidence in civil cases. He said proper evaluation and examination of documents were essential for ensuring fair and speedy adjudication. Issues relating to admissibility, proof, electronic records, stamping, registration and objections could have a significant bearing on the outcome of civil proceedings, he said.
Justice Sinha underlined the growing role of technology in the criminal justice system, noting that Zero FIR and e-FIR had facilitated quicker reporting of offences and made access to the criminal justice system easier for citizens, irrespective of where an offence had occurred.
He said cheque dishonour cases constituted a significant portion of pending litigation in courts and stressed the importance of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, particularly mediation and settlement, for their speedy resolution.
An ADR-based approach, he said, could reduce the burden of pending cases on courts, facilitate quicker resolution of disputes and help preserve the business and personal relationships of litigating parties.
Concluding his address, Justice Sinha said all the issues discussed at the seminar shared a common objective — making the justice delivery system more effective, technology-friendly, legally sound and people-centric.
He said society now expected the judiciary not only to deliver correct judgments but also to ensure that justice was provided in a timely, transparent and impartial manner.
The seminar also discussed contemporary legal issues, including challenges before courts in dealing with economic offences after implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita; admissibility and evidentiary consequences of documents in civil cases; legal aspects of Zero FIR and e-FIR and practical challenges concerning electronic records; and an ADR-based approach to decriminalisation of cheque dishonour.
Judges of the Chhattisgarh High Court, including Justices Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi, Sachin Singh Rajput, Rakesh Mohan Pandey, Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, Bibhu Datta Guru and Amitendra Kishore Prasad, besides the Registrar General and registry officials, attended the seminar.
