GUREZ: In a historic development, Justice Sanjeev Kumar, the senior-most Judge of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, presided over Division Bench proceedings from Gurez through virtual mode—ushering in a new chapter in the technology-driven justice system where geographical barriers no longer hinder access to courts.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar, who was on an official visit as Executive Chairman of the J&K Legal Services Authority to review the child-friendly scheme of NALSA-2024, heard all listed cases from the Munsiff Court Gurez virtually. The Division Bench, comprising Justices Sanjeev Kumar and Sanjay Parihar, functioned seamlessly with Justice Kumar joining from Gurez and Justice Parihar from the Jammu wing of the High Court.
Lawyers participated in the hearings from both Jammu and Srinagar wings of the High Court through video conferencing. A total of 45 cases from Jammu and 5 from Kashmir were heard online, exhausting the entire day’s cause list.
This initiative has for the first time enabled virtual proceedings from the remote tehsil of Gurez in Bandipora, drawing widespread appreciation from local stakeholders. Justice Sanjeev Kumar emphasized the utility of the service for lawyers, litigants, and defence personnel in the area.
He directed Fayaz Ahmad Qureshi, Central Project Coordinator of e-Courts for the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, to ensure smooth functioning of e-filing, timely case updates, and real-time display of cause lists to guarantee that litigants are not deprived of such facilities. He further ordered the immediate installation of a kiosk at Munsiff Court Gurez to provide people access to various e-Court services.
As Chairman of the High Court Information Technology Committee, Justice Sanjeev Kumar also stressed the need to upgrade IT infrastructure to strengthen the integration of physical and digital platforms, thereby easing court operations and expanding digital access.
This landmark step digitally connects a remote border region with the rest of the country. With the system in place, lawyers can now e-file cases, submit replies, track case status, and access cause lists of any court across India—bridging both geographical and seasonal barriers. The people and lawyers of Gurez expressed gratitude for this pioneering initiative in such a geographically isolated region.
