Kerala High Court
Suo Motu vs Union Of India on 14 March, 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. NITIN JAMDAR
&
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE ZIYAD RAHMAN A.A.
Friday, the 14th day of March 2025 / 23rd Phalguna, 1946
WP(C) NO. 7547 OF 2025(R)
SUO MOTU WRIT PETITION INITIATED BY THE HIGH COURT
IN RE: INFRASTRUCTURAL AND OTHER ISSUES RELATING TO
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN THE LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS.
RESPONDENTS:
1. UNION OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE, REPRESENTED BY ITS
SECRETARY, 4TH FLOOR, A-WING, SHASTRI BHAVAN, NEW DELHI - 110 001.
2. THE ADMINISTRATOR, UNION TERRITORY OF LAKSHADWEEP, SECRETARIAT
BUILDING, KAVARATTI, LAKSHADWEEP - 682 555.
3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, UNION TERRITORY OF LAKSHADWEEP, 1ST FLOOR,
COLLECTOR'S BLOCK, SECRETARIAT, KAVARATTI, LAKSHADWEEP - 682 555.
4. THE ADDITIONAL DISTRICT MAGISTRATE, UNION TERRITORY OF LAKSHADWEEP,
KAVARATTI, LAKSHADWEEP - 682 555.
5. THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, HIGH
COURT ROAD, MARINE DRIVE, KOCHI - 682 031.
6. THE LAKSHADWEEP STATE LEGAL SERVICE AUTHORITY, LOCATED AT THE
DISTRICT & SESSIONS COURT BUILDING, KAVARATTI, LAKSHADWEEP - 682
555.
7. ADV.C.N.NOORUL HIDAYA, AGED 36 YEARS, D/O C.P.MULLAKOYA,
CHERIYANANLLAL HOUSE, KALPENI ISLAND, UNION TERRITORY OF
LAKSHADWEEP, PIN - 682 557.
This Suo Motu Writ petition coming on for orders upon perusing the
petition, this Court's order dated 24/01/2025 in WP(C) 15855/2020 and upon
hearing the arguments of SRI.JAISANKAR V.NAIR, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT COUNSEL
for R1, SRI.R.V.SREEJITH, STANDING COUNSEL for R2 to R4, SRI.ELVIN PETER
P.J. (SENIOR ADVOCATE) along with M/S. SIDHARTH SUDHEER & K.R.GANESH,
Advocates for R5, M/S. ADARSH KUMAR & SHASHANK DEVAN, Advocates for R7 and
of M/S. ENOCH DAVID SIMON JOEL & AASHIQUE AKTHAR HAJJIGOTHI, AMICI CURIAE,
the court passed the following:
P.T.O.
NITIN JAMDAR, C.J.
&
ZIYAD RAHMAN A.A., J.
*************************************
W.P.(C). No. 7547 of 2025
**************************************
Dated this the 14th day of March, 2025.
ORDER
Nitin Jamdar, C. J.
Lakshadweep, India's smallest Union Territory, is an archipelago of 36 islands with an area of 32 sq. kms. Andrott, Amini, Agatti, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kiltan, Kavaratti, Kalpeni, and Minicoy are the ten inhabited islands. The islands are 220 kms. to 440 kms. away from the mainland. The island of Minicoy, being geographically remote, faces unique challenges.
2. The administration of the islands as Union Territory is under the Administrator appointed by the Government of India. The matters pertaining to the District Administration, such as revenue, land settlement, and law and order, are under the purview of the Collector- cum-Development Commissioner, who is also the District Magistrate. Lakshadweep police is under the command and control of the Administrator in his capacity as the Inspector General of Lakshadweep Police. The Union Territory is divided into five Community Development Blocks, with Kavaratti, Amini, Andrott, Minicoy and Kiltan as block headquarters.
WP(C).7547/2025 -:2:-3. Lakshadweep is under the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kerala. The presiding officers of the Courts are appointed from the Kerala Judicial Service on deputation. There is a Munsiff Court in Andrott having jurisdiction over the islands of Kavaratti, Andrott, Minicoy and Kalpeni. Another Munsiff Court is in Amini with jurisdiction over Amini, Agatti, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat and Bitra islands. These courts also function as the Court of Judicial Magistrate of First Class for their concerned jurisdiction. The Judicial Magistrate of Andrott is holding the charge of the Chief Judicial Magistrate. The Sub Court of Kavaratti was upgraded as District and Sessions Court with effect from April 1997.
4. A writ petition, W.P.(C) No.15855 of 2020, was filed by an advocate and resident of Kalpeni, to address the issues related to the judicial system in the Union Territory. The issues raised in this Petition pertain to the persistent judicial infrastructure and manpower challenges caused by the geographical dispersion of the islands. The High Court Administration brought to our attention the need to address various issues. Considering that these issues require intervention and monitoring, by order dated 24 January 2025, W.P.(C) No.15855 of 2020 was converted into a suo motu writ petition, and Respondent No. 5 - the High Court Administration, was directed to submit a report on the facility of e-filing in the islands; procurement and provision of video conferencing in courts, including issues of power supply and connectivity; human resource and infrastructural facilities; Mediation WP(C).7547/2025 -:3:- Centre and training of Mediators; Juvenile Justice Board; Child Welfare Committees, and any other issues affecting justice delivery.
5. In compliance with the order dated 24 January 2025, a report has been submitted by the Registrar General dealing with the digitisation, court staff, infrastructure and other issues. We take up these issues sequentially referring to the report, highlighting the areas that needs to be addressed and indicating the interventions.
6. All three Courts in Lakshadweep were established long back and the existing Court buildings are old. A request for the release of sufficient funds for repair and maintenance of the Munsiff-Magistrate Court at Andrott, estimated to ₹13,69,200/-, was forwarded on 2 August 2024 and the funds were not yet released. While the old buildings will have to be preserved as a heritage, to accommodate the present and future needs, construction of new annexes to the existing buildings may be required. The construction of a new annexe to the District Court building at Kavaratti is proposed to meet the requirements of establishing a Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centre and to accommodate future needs. The proposal was submitted on 31 May 2024. An architect from the Lakshadweep Public Works Department visited the premises and held preliminary discussions, but there is no further progress. New annexe buildings are also to be constructed in Amini and Andrott to meet the standards as per the interim order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of All India Judges' Association on 2 August 2018.
WP(C).7547/2025 -:4:-7. While Lakshadweep has 10 inhabited islands, court services are only available on three, and it impedes the ability of residents in other islands to seek legal recourse for their grievances. The issue can be resolved by establishing e-filing Kiosks in every inhabited island or by enabling e-filing through the office of the Deputy Collector / Executive Magistrate in each island (all offices are computerised). The Court software - the CIS NC 4.0 system was introduced in December 2023 in the Courts at Lakshadweep. Awareness and training programmes were conducted for legal professionals (Advocates and Mukthiyars) and staff members of the courts for the implementation of the e-filing system. To facilitate e-filing in the three Courts in Lakshadweep islands, the Administration sanctioned funds for nine sets of video conferencing equipment, its accessories and e-filing equipment for e-Sewa Kendra. Partial delivery was effected to the Kochi Lakshadweep Office and they would be transported to the islands on the availability of conveyance. Subject to the resolution of the connectivity issue, it is expected that e- filing can be implemented in the three Courts in Lakshadweep by May 2025. Further training to the Advocates, Mukthiyars, police and court staff may be necessary. Training may be conducted online, and a few staff from the mainland may be deputed to the courts on the island for a short time to provide hands-on practical training on the e-filing of cases. At present, there is no option in the e-filing system for the Mukthiyars to e-file cases. A request from the Lakshadweep Mukthiyar's Association to create a separate e-filing option for Mukthiyars has WP(C).7547/2025 -:5:- already been forwarded for consideration of the E-Committee, Supreme Court of India.
8. As regards the issue of video conferencing, the funds for procurement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure are provided by the Lakshadweep Administration and it has already sanctioned ₹44,30,876/- to purchase the video conferencing equipment. The supply order has been placed with KELTRON to ensure the timely implementation of the video conferencing facilities in the Courts at Lakshadweep. The delivery of equipment from KELTRON to Lakshadweep is to be completed within the time frame of one month. As regards the given geographical remoteness and logistical challenges of the islands, arrangements will have to be made for secure and efficient transportation. Once the equipment reaches the islands, installation and setup will have to be carried out promptly, to ensure that the infrastructure is properly integrated with the existing court systems. Technical teams will have to conduct testing and court staff will have to be trained to operate and maintain the system. Connectivity issues, if any, will have to be addressed through trial runs before making the system fully operational, to ensure that the video conferencing facilities are functional before the onset of the monsoon season.
9. As regards the issue regarding power supply, the e-filing and video conferencing facilities being established in the Courts at Lakshadweep WP(C).7547/2025 -:6:- will also add to the existing power consumption. To ensure uninterrupted power supply to the Courts in Lakshadweep, necessary steps will have to be taken. The Science and Technology Department of the Lakshadweep Administration can examine the feasibility and cost implications of providing power generators to the Courts in Lakshadweep with minimum Distributed Generation (DG) capacity of 50 KVA or installing solar power of adequate capacity. The IT Department will have to examine whether DG sets can be procured using funds allocated for the E-Committee, and if not, the District Administration will have to arrange for the necessary funding. The Science and Technology Department will also have to explore the feasibility of installing solar power systems to sustainably meet the courts' energy needs, ensuring the smooth operation of electronic tools essential for the justice delivery system.
10. To ensure stable network connectivity for ICT-enabled courts in Lakshadweep, necessary steps will have to be taken to address the challenges faced in remote locations due to limited internet access. While the CIS local servers of the islands are connected through the Lakshadweep SWAN network, public access to e-courts and e-filing services remains restricted. Efforts should be made to improve bandwidth availability to facilitate seamless digital operations. The provisions of the new criminal law need to be updated in the Lakshadweep e-Courts services, as the delay in data entry has led to case backlogs. The NIC Unit, Kavaratti, has to take steps to resolve the issue.
WP(C).7547/2025 -:7:-To ensure that this and any future connectivity issues are promptly identified and addressed, the representative of the NIC unit, Kavaratti, needs to be included in the monthly review meetings of the Computerization Committee.
11. For effective training of Advocates and Mukthiyars in e-filing procedures, the District Judiciary at Kavaratti can seek assistance from the IT Department of the High Court. Feasibility of deputing a staff member well-versed in e-filing procedures to the islands for a short duration to provide hands-on training has to be explored. The police and other Governmental authorities can also be familiarized with the intricacies of e-filing. The Administration can request assistance from the IT Department of the High Court. The UT Administration will have to identify and provide minimal space required for setting up these facilities, ensuring the availability of computer terminals, cameras, and other essential peripherals for seamless e-Filing services.
12. The position of the Court staff at Kavaratti, Amini and Andrott is that the sanctioned post available in the District and Sessions Court, Kavaratti is 13 and on a working arrangement, 4 posts are attached, making the total strength 17. In the Sub Court-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Amini, the sanctioned post is 9, and on a working arrangement, 2 posts are attached, making the total strength 11. In Munsiff-Magistrate Court, Andrott, the sanctioned post is 6, and on working arrangement, 2 posts are attached, making the total strength 8. Among these, 4 posts in the District and Sessions Court are lying WP(C).7547/2025 -:8:- vacant. In Sub Court - CJM Court, Amini, 2 posts are lying vacant and in Munsiff-Magistrate Court, Andrott, 1 post is lying vacant.
13. The long-standing vacancies for the post of Sheristadar in the District Court, Kavaratti, and Sub Court, Amini, as well as the Deputy Nazir in these Courts, will have to be urgently addressed by the Administration. Immediate steps need to be taken to examine the matter and initiate the recruitment process. The Lakshadweep Judicial Service Recruitment Rules need to be amended to facilitate the filling of these posts. As a proposal for amendment was submitted in November 2024 and is still pending consideration, this process should be expedited, as the absence of these officers affects the efficient management of the courts.
14. The establishment of a separate judicial cadre should be prioritized. While Regulation 23 of the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands (Civil Courts) Regulation, 1965, mandates that the District Judge is the appointing authority for ministerial officers, the current practice of allocating court staff from a common cadre without consulting the District Judge needs to be addressed. The proposal for a separate judicial cadre, submitted on 2 December 2000, remains under consideration, and the Administration will have to take necessary steps to finalize and implement this change. The District Judge has to be consulted regarding the transfer and posting of the Court staff, as required under the Regulations of 1965. Necessary instructions have to be issued to ensure compliance with these provisions.
WP(C).7547/2025 -:9:-15. No Welfare Fund Scheme exists for Advocates and Mukthiyars in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The possibility of including Advocates under the Welfare Fund Scheme of the Bar Council of Kerala can be explored. Mukthiyars are not recognized as Advocates and currently lack a statutory provision for such a scheme, however, given their long-standing contributions to the judicial system and local residents, the Administration can assess the feasibility of creating a dedicated welfare fund for Mukthiyars to support their professional and financial security.
16. To ensure effective administration of justice, the vacant post of Assistant Public Prosecutor in the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Amini will have to be filled without further delay. While the recruitment process for an Assistant Public Prosecutor on contract basis is underway, competitive remuneration should be offered to attract competent candidates. There is a need to engage the most qualified legal professionals to safeguard public interest in courts. Furthermore, continuing contractual appointments indefinitely without creating a permanent cadre is against the mandate of Sections 18 to 20 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. As per Section 20, the State Government will have to establish a District Directorate of Prosecution, and necessary steps should be taken to ensure compliance with this statutory obligation.
17. Lakshadweep Legal Services Authority has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, but it lacks dedicated WP(C).7547/2025 -:10:- infrastructural facilities. The State and District Legal Services Authorities currently operate from the District Court, Kavaratti, and the Taluk Legal Services Committees function from the Sub Court and Munsiff Court. This arrangement is inadequate. Adequate infrastructure should be provided to ensure the smooth functioning of legal services institutions. Six computers and multi-function printers are required, with an estimated expense of ₹4,91,934/-. While the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has provided ₹2,00,000/-, the UT Administration will have to fund the remaining amount to enhance operational efficiency.
18. Though the Lakshadweep Legal Services Authority has set up a Mediation Centre on paper, no trained mediators or functional mediation centres exist in the region. A formal Mediation Centre will have to be established to address matrimonial and property disputes effectively. Mukthiyars with 15 years of experience could be considered as Mediators, in addition to those mentioned under Rule 8 of the Civil Procedure (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Rules, 2008. Mediation training, subject to the approval of the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee can be undertaken.
19. No dedicated human resources have been earmarked for the Lakshadweep State Legal Services Authority (LSLSA) and the Taluk Legal Services Committees (TLSC) at Amini and Andrott. However, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) currently functions with a WP(C).7547/2025 -:11:- full-time Secretary (Civil Judge - Senior Division) and two Lower Division Clerks (LDCs) deputed from the Arts & Culture Department and the Finance and Accounts Department, respectively. As per Rules 6, 9, and 11 of the Legal Services Authorities Rules, 1998, formulated by the UT of Lakshadweep, the legal service institutions at all levels should have the necessary officers and employees to provide secretarial assistance and ensure their day-to-day functioning, as notified by the Administrator from time-to-time.
20. Under Section 2(59) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (Act of 2015), the term "State Government" in relation to a Union Territory refers to the Administrator of that Union Territory. Therefore, all references to the State Government in the Act apply to the Union Territory as well.
21. Chapter III of the Act of 2015 deals with the Juvenile Justice Board. Under Section 4, the Union Territory must constitute one or more Juvenile Justice Boards for every district. Each Board must consist of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of First Class with the stipulated experience, along with two social workers. The procedure governing the Board is detailed under Section 7, while its powers, functions, and responsibilities are specified in Section 8. Given the critical role of the Juvenile Justice Board in addressing the needs of children in need of care and protection, its proper functioning is essential. However, the Juvenile Justice Board constituted under the Act WP(C).7547/2025 -:12:- of 2015 was dissolved on 29 February 2020, and it has not been reconstituted since then. Despite authorities being informed by a letter dated 28 August 2024, no action has been taken so far, leaving five cases pending consideration before the Board. That apart, Child Welfare Police Officers are yet to be designated in each police station. Necessary steps need to be taken to address this issue without further delay.
22. Under Section 27 of the Act of 2015, the State Government has to constitute one or more Child Welfare Committees (CWC) in every district to discharge their statutory duties regarding child welfare. The Child Welfare Committee in Lakshadweep is not fully constituted and, consequently, is not functioning effectively. The CWC is responsible for maintaining a panel of legal-aid counsel and support persons for victims of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (PoCSO) Act and other sexual offences.
23. Childline services are not available on the islands, and essential infrastructure, such as Special Homes, Shelter Homes, Observation Homes, and Places of Safety, is yet to be established. To address these gaps, an office of the Child Welfare Committee-cum-Child Protection Unit, along with a District Legal-cum-Probation Officer under the Block Development Officer (BDO) concerned, has to be set up on every island to manage and equip the Juvenile Justice Board efficiently. Immediate action is required to ensure compliance with the Act and to provide necessary care and protection to children in Lakshadweep.
WP(C).7547/2025 -:13:-24. Under Section 8 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (Act of 2005), a Protection Officer has to be appointed, preferably a woman. No Protection Officer has been appointed in the islands. The duties and functions of Protection Officers are outlined in Section 9 of the Act. These include submitting a Domestic Incident Report (DIR) to the Magistrate, ensuring that the aggrieved person receives legal aid under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, arranging a shelter home if necessary, and facilitating medical assistance.
25. The Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 (Act of 1958) is also applicable to the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Section 13 of the Act of 1958 mandates the appointment of a Probation Officer, while Section 14 outlines their duties. No Probation Officer has been appointed in Lakshadweep.
26. Another pressing concern is the implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. Under Section 2(1)(b) of the Act, the term "appropriate Government" includes Union Territories. The Act acknowledges the vulnerability of individuals with mental illnesses, the discrimination they face, and the challenges their families endure. It aims to ensure that mental health patients receive the same level of treatment as those with physical illnesses, supporting their recovery, rehabilitation, and integration into society. Currently, individuals requiring mental health treatment are sent to healthcare centers in WP(C).7547/2025 -:14:- Kerala, as there are no facilities for their treatment and observation in the islands. This issue requires urgent attention. In this regard, the Legal Services Authority should take note of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) scheme, which provides for various measures to assist mentally ill individuals, including skill development programs and support for independent living. The Legal Services Authority should also explore ways to ensure proper support for the mental healthcare services in Lakshadweep.
27. Disposal Committee is mandated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and Rules 13 and 14 of the Lakshadweep Prohibition Regulations, 1979 govern the confiscation of seized articles. However, there is no clear provision outlining the procedure for the disposal of confiscated articles.
28. We are aware that the issues arising under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 may be of lesser degree than on the mainland, the State of Kerala, however, it cannot be said that they do not exist, nor has any such claim been made before us. The mere fact that fewer cases are reported does not mean that these issues do not exist. The lower number of recorded instances could be because of the relatively smaller population in such regions. These laws are social welfare legislations. The applicability and WP(C).7547/2025 -:15:- necessity of these laws cannot be measured solely on the basis of population size or the frequency of reported cases. Every individual, even in the smallest and most remote communities, is entitled to the legal protection and support envisaged under these Statutes.
29. The requirements highlighted by the District Court and the Registrar General are basic, and necessary steps need to be taken to address them. The learned counsel for the District Administration has assured that these aspects will be duly considered. Similarly, the learned counsel representing the High Court Administration has submitted that the feasibility giving responsibility to one officer from the IT Directorate to specifically focus on the ICT requirements of the courts in the islands will be explored. It would be beneficial if an officer from the IT Directorate of the High Court be directly engaged with the District Court Administration in the islands to address technological challenges effectively. The Computerization Committee can consider periodically dedicating one of their meetings exclusively to discussing and resolving ICT-related issues specific to the islands. A representative from the NIC Unit, Kavaratti can attend these meetings.
30. In view of the above, we propose to formulate a Plan of Action to address the issues and establish a timeline for their resolution. However, before proceeding with this, it would be necessary to convene a joint meeting comprising the Registrar General, the District Judge, Kavaratti, a representative of the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the District WP(C).7547/2025 -:16:- Collector, a nominee of the Administrator, the Superintendent of Police, and an officer from the Public Works Department. The Registrar General and the District Collector may include any other officers whose presence is deemed necessary for the effective deliberation. During this meeting, a comprehensive Plan of Action will be finalized, and a definite timeline will be set for implementation. The meeting shall be held within two weeks from today, and the Plan of Action, along with the proposed timeline, shall be placed before this Court on the next date of hearing. The topics for the Plan of Action are as follows:
A. The transportation of video conferencing and e-filing equipment to the islands and the establishment of e-filing Kiosk/e-Sewa Kendra on each island with essential equipment, such as computer terminals, cameras and peripherals; the setting up of necessary infrastructure to implement the e-Filing system, e-Sewa Kendra, on each inhabited island.
B. Training the advocates, court staff and Government officials at Lakshadweep islands regarding e-filing and other ICT initiatives.
C. Solutions to provide uninterrupted power supply to all Court establishments in the islands, including its technical viability, estimated costs, and timeline for implementation of the same;
D. Measures to enhance the bandwidth availability for the Case Information System (CIS) local servers connected through the Lakshadweep SWAN network.WP(C).7547/2025 -:17:-
E. Steps to be taken up for filling all vacant posts of staff in the District and Sessions Court, Kavaratti, Sub Court-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Amini, and Munsiff-Magistrate Court, Andrott, including the posts of Sheristadar and Deputy Nazir;
F. The creation of a separate cadre and service for the judiciary, and till that time, the protocol of consultation with the District Judge, Kavaratti, in respect of the posting and transfer of court staff to be followed;
G. The creation of permanent posts of Public Prosecutor and Assistant Public Prosecutor, and the establishment of District Directorate of Prosecution; necessary staff to the Lakshadweep State Legal Services Authority and the Taluk Legal Services Committee at Amini and Andrott;
H. Feasibility of formulating a Welfare Fund scheme along with the Bar Council of Kerala to the Advocates and Mukthiyars practising in the Courts at the Union Territory of Lakshadweep;
I. Necessary infrastructure for the Legal Services Authority, including the balance amount for the purchase of computers and peripherals;
J. The constitution of Child Welfare Committees, a panel of legal-aid counsels, and support persons for the victims under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act;WP(C).7547/2025 -:18:-
K. Establishment of Childline services, Special Homes, Shelter Homes, Observation Homes, and Places of Safety;
L. Setting up of the office of the Child Welfare Committee-cum-Child Protection Unit and the post of District Legal-cum-Probation Officer;
M. Appointment of a Protection Officer under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005;
N. Appointment of a Probation Officer as per the provisions of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958;
O. Establishment of Mental Healthcare Centre on the islands;
P. Constitution of a Committee for speedy disposal of the articles seized under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and the Lakshadweep Prohibition Regulation Act, 1979, and establishing the procedure;
Q. The feasibility of involving an officer from the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Kavaratti, in the meetings of the Computerization Committee be explored and the Computerization Committee may periodically hold a meeting with special emphasis on the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure on the islands. The feasibility of deputing personnel to train the staff at the islands in respect of video conferencing and e-filing can also be explored by the Computerization Committee;WP(C).7547/2025 -:19:-
31. Post on 3 April 2025.
32. The Action Plan with the timeline finalised by the Committee will be placed on record on the next hearing date. If the areas highlighted are not addressed or the timeline is not satisfactory, the Court may proceed to issue mandatory directions.
Sd/-
NITIN JAMDAR, CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/-
ZIYAD RAHMAN A.A., JUDGE krj/-
//TRUE COPY// P.A. TO C.J.
14-03-2025 /True Copy/ Assistant Registrar