Kerala High Court Mulls Guidelines To Reform Judicial System In Lakshadweep, Meanwhile VC Hearings Commenced

A Particular Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Ziyad Rahman A.A. was listening to a suo motu case initiated to handle the problems pertaining to the judicial system within the the Union Territory.

To recap, the stakeholders had convened a joint assembly in March-April 2025 and had submitted as a report back to the Court docket detailing the particulars concerning set up of e-filing construction, creation of everlasting posts of Public Prosecutor and Assistant Public Prosecutor, organising of infrastructure for District Authorized Providers Authority, growing bandwidth of web connectivity, welfare funds for advocates practising within the island, and so forth.

Trying on the timelines within the mentioned report, the Court docket had deferred the listening to by 3 months.

When the case got here up for consideration immediately, the Court docket was apprised that set up of infrastructure for organising of e-filing tools and videoconferencing (VC) tools are full.

It was additionally knowledgeable that the courts within the Union Territory have began utilizing VC in courtroom proceedings however e-filing is but to begin. The Court docket was additional instructed that two coaching periods for advocates and courtroom employees concerning e-filing and VC have been accomplished.

After a topic-wise, detailed dialogue concerning the recommendations made by the Court docket on the Motion Plan, the particular bench orally noticed that will probably be go an in depth judgment incorporating pointers on every matter.

The case is posted on August 1^st for orders.

Background

In 2020, a writ petition filed by a lawyer resident in Kalpeni of Lakshadweep Islands outlining the problems associated to the judicial system within the Union Territory. In 2025, a suo motu writ petition was registered by the Kerala Excessive Court docket by changing the aforesaid writ petition.

In January, the Court docket gave a course to the Excessive Court docket Administration (5^th respondent) to submit a report on the power of e-filing within the islands; procurement and provision of video conferencing in courts, together with problems with energy provide and connectivity; human useful resource and infrastructural amenities; Mediation Centre and coaching of Mediators; Juvenile Justice Board; Little one Welfare Committees, and every other points affecting justice supply.

Later, the Court docket directed to carry a joint assembly comprising the Registrar Common, the District Choose, Kavaratti, a consultant of the Nationwide Informatics Centre (NIC), the District Collector, a nominee of the Administrator, the Superintendent of Police, an officer from the Public Works Division and different officers. The intention of the assembly was to formulate an Motion Plan and to set a particular timeline for implementation.

Within the interim order handed, the Court docket additionally gave a listing of matters to be addressed by the Motion Plan, together with video-conferencing and e-filing, coaching to advocates and courtroom employees concerning e-filing, enhancement of bandwidth, filling up of vacant posts of courtroom employees, creation of everlasting posts of Public Prosecutor and Assistant Public Prosecutor, formulation of a Welfare Scheme for advocates, infrastructure for Authorized Providers Authorities, structure of Little one Welfare Committees and panel advocates, appointment of Safety and Probation Officers, institution of Psychological Healthcare Centre, and so forth.

Case Title: In Re: Infrastructural and Different Points Referring to Administration of Justice within the Lakshadweep Islands

Case Quantity: WPC No. 7547 of 2025