Digital Platform FASTER | 01 Apr 2022

Recently, Chief Justice of India (CJI) launched the digital platform FASTER (Fast and Secured Transmission of Electronic Records).

The Supreme Court has also launched other programmes involving technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) based portal ‘SUPACE’ in the judicial system aimed at assisting judges with legal research.
eCourts Mission Mode Project is a pan-India Project, monitored and funded by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, for the District Courts across the country.
- The objective of the project is to provide designated services to litigants, lawyers and the judiciary through ICT enablement of courts.

About:
- It is a digital platform to communicate interim orders, stay orders, bail orders etc., of the Supreme Court to authorities concerned through a secured electronic communication channel.
Need:
- There have been cases where jail inmates are not released despite bail orders passed by the Supreme Court due to delay in communication of such orders.
- So, it was needed to utilise information and communication technology tools for efficient transmission of court’s orders.
Significance:
- Ensure timely Release of Undertrials:
  - Ensure that undertrials are not made to wait for days on end behind bars to be released because the certified hard copies of their bail orders took time to reach the prison.
    - Undertrials are the people who are yet to be found guilty of the crimes they have been accused of.
- Prevent Unnecessary Arrests:
  - It will help in preventing unnecessary arrests and custody of people even after the court had already granted them its protection.
- Ensure Fundamental Rights of Prisoners:
  - Ensure fundamental rights of personal liberty, life and dignity of the prisoners which is given under Article 21 of Constitution of India.
Challenges:
- The availability of internet connection in jails across the nation as without this facility transmission of such orders to prisons will not be possible.