The Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, on November 2, 2026, inaugurated the Data Centre at the Jharkhand High Court and launched a series of digital initiatives aimed at improving access to judicial services and strengthening court administration.
Delivering the keynote address, the CJI described the inauguration as an important milestone in the technological modernisation of the judiciary, emphasising that the success of digital infrastructure must ultimately be measured by the difference it makes to litigants, advocates, judges and court staff.
The inauguration also marked the launch of the High Court’s new website, the Online Certified Copy Application for the Civil Courts of Jharkhand, a personalised cause list facility and Dragon speech-to-text software.
Highlighting the significance of the Data Centre, Justice Surya Kant stated that the project represents an investment of approximately ₹25 crore. He explained that the infrastructure would provide the computing capacity, storage, connectivity, security and backup facilities necessary to support digital records and court applications.
The CJI stressed that technological modernisation must be accompanied by robust safeguards, particularly in relation to cybersecurity, protection of sensitive judicial records, reliable backup arrangements and trained technical personnel. He emphasised that digital systems must remain secure, dependable and capable of adapting to the evolving needs of judicial institutions.
Speaking about the new digital initiatives, Justice Surya Kant observed that the High Court’s website would serve as an important point of contact for citizens, advocates and litigants seeking information about cases, orders and court-related services. The online certified copy application, he noted, would reduce unnecessary travel and inconvenience for litigants, particularly those residing far from the concerned courts.
He also highlighted the utility of the personalised cause list in helping advocates locate and filter cases, organise their working day and prepare more efficiently for hearings. The Dragon speech-to-text software, meanwhile, could assist in preparing judgments, orders and other judicial documents by reducing repetitive drafting efforts. However, he cautioned that such technology must be accompanied by careful verification, particularly of legal terminology, names and citations, with responsibility for the final text remaining with the human user.
Emphasising the limits of technological intervention in the justice system, the CJI stated that digital tools and artificial intelligence may support research, documentation and information management, but cannot replace judicial judgment. Judges must remain responsible for hearing parties fairly, assessing evidence and deciding disputes in accordance with law.
He further underlined the need to ensure that people lacking digital literacy, reliable internet access or the ability to navigate online systems are not left behind. Digital services, he said, must widen access to justice rather than create new barriers.
The CJI also emphasised that the benefits of digital infrastructure must extend beyond the High Court to District Courts, where many citizens first encounter the justice system. Stronger digital foundations, he observed, could facilitate better integration of judicial applications, e-filing, video-conferencing and other services across the State.
Concluding his address, Justice Surya Kant observed that the true measure of technological progress would be whether litigants find it easier to approach courts, advocates can prepare more efficiently and judges receive better support in discharging their judicial responsibilities.