The two-day National Conclave on Technology and Judicial Education, organised by the High Court of Sikkim in collaboration with the e-Committee of the Supreme Court of India, concluded with a closing plenary at Chintan Bhawan in Gangtok, drawing judges, legal educators and delegates from across India and abroad to deliberate on integrating technology into judicial processes and legal education (last updated May 2, 2026).
Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur, the chief guest at the closing session, urged urgent integration of digital tools with legal education and court processes while safeguarding inclusivity and accessibility. He described the conclave as a “significant step towards strengthening one of the foundational pillars of democracy-the judiciary,” and said digital adoption should be seen as structural transformation to make justice delivery more transparent, efficient and accessible.
The Governor highlighted innovations such as e-processes, paperless courts, digital records, e-filing, hybrid court models and live-streaming, adding that these initiatives are reshaping judicial administration nationwide. He noted Sikkim’s transition towards becoming India’s first fully paperless judiciary and emphasised the expanding role of artificial intelligence and digital management systems in equipping courts to handle complex, cyber-era legal challenges. At the same time he warned that technology must not compromise access and recommended wider use of local languages supported by translators and modern applications. He also called for safeguards and stricter provisions to prevent misuse of publicly accessible proceedings on social media.
Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, in a special address, underscored cultural and historical ties between India and Sri Lanka and praised the conclave as a valuable Commonwealth forum for sharing ideas and confronting common challenges. Professor (Dr.) S. Sivakumar, President of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association, described the event as intellectually enriching and stressed that the focus had shifted from mere digitisation to institutional transformation — improving access, usability and trust in systems such as e-filing, and exploring technologies like blockchain for record integrity and AI for research and case management. He cautioned that the digital divide could translate into unequal access to justice and called for inclusive solutions.
Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan of the High Court of Sikkim said the conclave brought diverse yet meaningful perspectives and underscored the need for continued reforms to tackle systemic inefficiencies that cause delays. Chief Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque thanked dignitaries, participants and all stakeholders, noting that organising such a significant event in a small state required close collaboration between the judiciary, the Bar, technical teams and the state government. The conclave closed with a vote of thanks from Sonam Denka Wangdi, Central Project Coordinator of the High Court of Sikkim; the welcome address had been delivered earlier by Tashi Rapten Barfungpa, President of the Bar Association of Sikkim.
Participants expressed confidence that the discussions and recommendations will guide future judicial reforms, helping build a more responsive, technology-enabled and people-centred justice system.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/national-conclave-on-technology-and-judicial-education-concludes-at-gangtok
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date:
