To improve the State's judicial administration through an e-courts project, the Orissa High Court has stressed on maximum use of videoconference facility for production of accused in judicial custody in the courts as required under Section 167 of the CrPC.
An under-trial prisoner (UTP) in judicial custody is required to be produced before court once in every fortnight till charge-sheet is filed. In videoconference, the UTP need not travel to the court but can produce himself before the magistrate by sitting in front of the video camera in the jail premises.
The recent High Court suggestion for more and more use of videoconference for this purpose is aimed at reducing pendency of cases. But the facility will also help the State Government as otherwise iit has to make heavy security arrangements along with escort party to transport UTPs to the courts from the jails and vice versa.
Videoconferencing will also get rid of crowd of unruly and anxious people near the courts. In recent days, the courts have witnessed heavy gatherings in their premises during the production of arrested fake godmen and the escort parties face difficulties in giving them full protection from public hecklings.
"We are now providing videoconference facilities to at least 42 more courts and an equal number of jails in the State under the e-courts project. This facility is already in place in all the district courts and circle jails," informed High Court Central Project Coordinator (CPC) TP Rath.
Rath said at least Rs3 lakh is spent in every unit of videoconference which require audio, video facilities, computers, dedicated power and communication lines for internet to function. "The State Government must come forward to extend adequate cooperation for successful implementation of the e-courts project, he opined.
The AAP Government has given steep hike in the remuneration packages to its standing counsel, panel advocates and additional public prosecutors that is highest in the country. While the monthly retainership for standing counsel has been increased from Rs25,000 to Rs1,10,000, the amount of his secretarial assistance has also been hiked from Rs10,000 to Rs30,000. The monthly retainership of additional standing counsel has been increased from Rs20,000 to Rs90,000 and the amount of their secretarial assistance too has been hiked from Rs5,000 to Rs30,000.