District Judiciary Gets NSTEP for Speedy Disposal of Criminal Cases

 Hyderabad: Supreme Court judge Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai underscored the critical need for improved infrastructure in the district and taluk-level judiciary, which plays a key role in the judicial system. Stressing on the necessity of ensuring speedy justice, especially in criminal cases, Justice Gavai said that the judicial system should adopt modern technology.

Justice Gavai was speaking after inaugurating NSTEP (National Service and Tracking of Electronic Processes) in criminal cases at Telangana State Judicial Academy at Secunderabad on Saturday. He pointed out that without robust physical and technological support, the full potential of judicial reforms cannot be realised.

He highlighted the necessity of better infrastructure facilities in courtrooms and better human resources at the district and magistrate courts for fortifying the system at the district level. He noted “Investment in district judiciary is about ensuring justice at every nook and corner...swiftly and fairly”.

NSTEP is a system of serving, processing and monitoring summons electronically. A GPS-enabled device is given to the bailiff leading to greater transparency and speedy delivery. It provides real time status updates of service summons.

Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court Justice Alok Aradhe said that Telangana was the first state to introduce NSTEP in civil cases. NSTEP in criminal cases will help in cutting time in judicial processes of serving summons.

High Court judge Justice Sujoy Paul also spoke the technology’s resourcefulness in criminal cases.