FASTER By The Chief Justice of India

The Chief Justice of India N V Ramana has launched a software named FASTER which stands for ‘Fast and Secure Transmission of Electronic Records’, it is software to transfer Court Orders. The Judges of the Supreme Court, Chief Justices and Judges of the High Courts also attended the online launch event of this software.

Talking about the software, it is a digital base to transfer or communicate interim orders, bail orders, stay orders, etc., of the Supreme Court to authorities through a safe and secured electronic communication channel.

Discussing the launch program, the CJI said that the court had hit upon the idea after coming across a newspaper report regarding the late release of prisoners owing to the delay in orders reaching the prison authorities.

“We took up a suo motu case thereafter and further then roped in Justices A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud, Hemant Gupta and others. Orders passed by the Supreme Court and other High Courts have to be transmitted safely without tinkering by third parties,” CJI Ramana stated.

“The FASTER software is made on a war footing by the Registry in linked with the [National Informatics Centre] NIC. To get to all districts of the country India via this system, so far 73 Nodal Officers have been selected at many levels. All Nodal Officers have been connected via a special judicial communication network JCN, by making a secured pathway.

A total of 1,887 e-mail IDs are made for this software across the country. The FASTER Cell has been founded in the Registry of the Supreme Court. It will transfer a Record of Proceedings or Orders related to bail and release passed by this Court to the concerned Nodal Officers and duty holders via email,” Ramana said.

Further, the Apex Court had directed the Chief Secretaries of all of the States and UT (Union Territories) to make sure the availability of internet connection facilities with good speed in every jail and take important steps to arrange for internet expeditiously wherever this is not available. Till then, the communication is directed to be created via the Nodal Officers of the State Governments under the FASTER system.

I think it will aid the problem of delay significantly. What do you think about it?