President Draupadi Murmu launched the Supreme Court’s eSCR website on Sunday, providing Hindi translations of 21,388 judgments out of a total of 36,068 judgments delivered by the Supreme Court since January 26, 1950. The Chief Justice, D Y Chandrachud, announced that the remaining judgments are currently being translated and will be uploaded once vetted. The eSCR portal already offers all judgments in English free of charge to judges, lawyers, litigants, and the general public.
During the inauguration of the e-portal at the Constitution Day function, it was revealed that the Supreme Court’s rate of case disposal this year has slightly declined compared to the previous year. The portal displayed that the court disposed of 54,568 cases this year, achieving a disposal rate of 127%, in contrast to 42,744 cases last year. However, the filing of cases also increased this year, with a total of 48,255 cases filed. Out of these, 47,446 have been disposed of, resulting in a disposal rate of 98%.
Notably, the Supreme Court experienced a change in leadership this year, with Justices N V Ramana, U U Lalit, and D Y Chandrachud serving as Chief Justices at different times. Despite the minor decrease in the disposal rate, the Supreme Court remains dedicated to addressing the increasing number of cases filed by ensuring efficient case management.
The launch of the eSCR website with Hindi translations is a significant development in promoting accessibility and inclusivity in the Indian judicial system. It will enable a wider range of individuals to understand and engage with the judgments issued by the Supreme Court.
The availability of translations in Hindi on the eSCR portal is expected to facilitate the legal community, litigants, and the general public in comprehending and analyzing the court’s decisions. This step aligns with the commitment to democratize legal information and increase transparency in the country’s judicial processes.
The Supreme Court’s efforts to expand access to its judgments through the eSCR portal demonstrates its commitment to upholding the principles of open justice and enhancing public understanding of legal proceedings. The inclusion of Hindi translations acknowledges the linguistic diversity of India and ensures that valuable legal knowledge is accessible to a broader audience.
As the eSCR portal continues to evolve, it is expected to contribute to the advancement of legal scholarship, encourage more informed legal arguments, and enhance the quality of legal decision-making across the country. The digitization of judgments in Hindi represents a significant milestone in bridging the language gap and empowering individuals with the ability to comprehend the intricacies of Supreme Court judgments more effectively.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s launch of the eSCR website offering Hindi translations of its judgments marks a momentous step towards promoting accessibility, inclusivity, and transparency in the Indian judicial system. By making legal information available in Hindi, the court aims to empower individuals and facilitate a better understanding of its decisions. This digital transformation is expected to have a profound impact on the legal community and the general public, contributing to a more informed and engaged society.
