ISRO satellite to interlink Gujarat courts

Ahmedabad: After starting India’s first e-court in India in February this year, the state judiciary is set to take another quantum leap next year. If all goes well, the multi-point video conferencing between state courts and parties will be supported by satellite links provided by ISRO.

Top officials of Gujarat judiciary expressed interest in the satellite interlinking while observing the functioning of telemedicine centre at Sabarmati Central Jail on Friday. The centre was supported by ISRO’s Space Application Centre that boasts of uninterrupted linking facility. A member of judicial system at the event told TOI that an expression of interest was made at the function where senior ISRO officials were present.
“The problem with the conventional system is that the technology used currently is at a nascent stage. It does not have a superior quality of reception and has connection glitches. Sometimes, we use the facility at the collector office. If we get the satellite link-up with a designated bandwidth, it can do wonders,” said the official.
At present, there are 20 courts in the state equipped with video conferencing facility. The e-courts are used to have tamper-proof authenticated digital recording of courtroom proceedings along with multi-point videoconferencing between the courtroom, central jail, the office of the police commissioner and forensic science laboratory, during case trials, said officials.