A Profile

January 2008 National Informatics Centre, Tamil Nadu

Application Systems in use at Madras High Court

Display systems are installed at principal bench and Madurai bench to know the

status of cases being heard at court halls. 35 court hall display and 6 composite

display are installed at Principal bench.

Certified copies of Final orders, Bails/Anticipatory Bails and interim application

orders are entered and issued through the system. The computerized system has

reduced the time delay in issuance of copies to the litigants. The Interim

application orders are issued through the system since 26th Feb 2001.

Systems for posting Case Status have been developed. The case details have

been hosted on Internet.

Interactive Voice Response System is installed at Madras High Court to know the

Case Status through telephone.

Touch Screen Kiosk is installed at Madras High Court for public dissemination.

Daily Cause Lists are being prepared using the system. Systems are installed at

Filing Counter, Posting sections for preparation of cause list.

Daily Cause Lists are being hosted on Internet. Number of hits per day is more

than 7000 on working days. As per the statistics available, Madras HC is

receiving maximum number of hits.

Reported Judgments are being hosted on Internet. More than 1500 users visit the

Madras HC Judgment site every day.

Statistical reports relating to disposed cases statements are prepared regularly.

Information Centre functions at Madras High Court for the benefit of Litigant

public to know the status of cases filed at Madras HC. Around 700 case enquiries

are received at the enquiry counter every day.

New Codification system is introduced at Madras HC in which the advocates are

required to fill up the coding sheet for easy classification of cases. The system is

implemented from 12-06-2006.

English Record department updates the inward/outward movement of

disposed cases.

Payroll system is in regular use.

Madras High Court Bench at Madurai has more than 130 systems with Local Area

Network connecting all the systems. All the application systems in use at

Chennai are implemented at Madurai.

Web site of Madras High Court launched by Justice K.G. Balakrishnan Judge,

Supreme Court on 23.04.2006. The web site address is

http://www.hcmadras.tn.nic.in

Maintenance of more than 15 lakh case details on the systems, including the

particulars on disposed cases.

List of business Information System

( LOBIS )

LOBIS, the comprehensive Case Management System maintains the particulars of cases

filed at the Madras High Court from the level of filing to till they get disposed. The system

facilitates to keep information electronically from the case bundles from which the registry can

cater any sort of report as and when required.

Highlights of LOBIS

• Capturing of basic information and auto generation of S.R. Number / Dairy number at the

filing counter. Provision to record Representation of cases and the reasons for Returns.

Generation of Daily SR/Dairy Register, Return statements.

• Auto generation of case numbers after scrutiny made by the Appellate Examiners.

• Full cause title entry with all parties addresses.

• Caveat entry and matching by party name and lower court number.

• Generation of Cause Lists

• Hosting the Daily/Weekly/Monthly Cause List on Website.

• Disposal, Adjournment and Vakalat maintenance.

• Maintenance of District Criminal Register, to find out the redundant filing of a case for a

same cause and for grouping.

• Classification of Subject and Category codes for the purpose of grouping.

• Case Status on Web Site.

• Online Inquiry Counter.

• Case Status via IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System)

• Decision supporting reports, such as pending, disposal statements and etc.

• Maintenance of 15 lacs cases.

• Dissemination of case status using Touch Screen (E-Kiosk)

1. Filing Counter

a) S.R. /Dairy Entry

Any activity regarding a case in the High Court starts with the filing of a case.

The systems installed in all filing sections enable capturing of basic detail of a case, such

as, the name of the advocate of petitioners/ respondents, party details, court-fee, any

defect in the matter and etc. Immediately after filing, S.R. Number/Dairy Number will be

generated for the case automatically by the system in series with the previous case

number in the same category. Bulk filing of cases is also allowed. A report on SR / Dairy

report will be generated daily (twice) and will be displayed outside the filing counter for

the reference of advocates.

(b) Main Number & Returns Entry

After scrutiny of a case by the Appellate Examiners and found it is correct in all

respects, main number will allotted to the case. The main case report will be

generated and displayed out side the filing section for the reference of the

advocates.

If any defect is noticed by the A.E. , the same can recorded into the system for further

reference.

(c) Full cause title Entry

Once a case given main number, the full cause title of a case will be entered into the

system .i.e. Parties details, Advocate details, Connected application details, Lower court

details, Prayers, General details and etc.

The details entered will be useful for issuing notices, order copies, preparation of file

books and etc. The Category/subject codes entered will be useful for grouping.

(d) Caveat Entry

Caveats filed at filing counter are entered in to the system. Caveat matching is done through

the lower court number or by party name.

2. Judicial Sections

In all sections (Judicial, Criminal, Writ and Original side) systems are provided and they are

in LAN. This helps the sections :

• To update the case database pertaining to their section.

• To view the Status of cases immediately.

• To generate disposal/pendency and other statistical reports.

• To minimize the movements of files

(a) Cause List

The list of cases to be heard by the Hon’ble Court is prepared every day. The cause lists

for a week and month are also being prepared. The lists are prepared by using the

advocate entries fed at the time of cause title entry. The list can also be prepared by

using adjournments. The specimen report is given below.

(b) Cause List on Website

The cause list is hosted regularly on the internet along with the sitting list, daily

notification, and Miscellaneous list in the following Web site. Instead of waiting for the

paper copies, the advocates & litigants having access to internet can refer the cause list

on the web.

http://indiancourts.nic.in

On an average, 7000 visitors are regularly visiting this site on working days. Search

facility is available on Judge wise, advocate wise, court wise and case number wise.

(c) Adjournment Entry

Cases adjourned to next hearing date by the Hon’ble Judges are entered into the

system. Previous adjournment details for a particular case number can be viewed. Based

on the adjournment details rough cause list can be prepared at posting section. Adjourning

group of cases at a time is also possible through this system.

(d) Transfer Entry

Cases transferred from the High Court to its Bench or lower court and vice versa is

recorded by using this system.

(e) Vakalat Entry

Vakalat for the Petitioner/Respondent is recorded into the system. Change of vakalat

filed by the Advocate is also incorporated in the main database.

(f) Date fixed & Sr. Citizen Entry

Date fixed and Senior Citizen cases are recorded in the system. Reports can be

generated based on this information as and when required by the Registry.

(g) Disposal and Recall Entry

The cases disposed by the Hon’ble Judges are being entered in to the system. Disposed

case can also be recalled, if review application is filed. System will maintain the statistics

automatically.

3. Notice Section

Notices are issued when the Respondent/Appellant in a case is to be informed about the

order passed by the court.

(a). Notice Entry

Notices can be generated through the system depending on the nature of the case by

using the cause title entered in the filing section.

(b). Notice Dispatch & Update

Notices dispatched and received by the Registry is captured in the system The particulars

about the nature of return , if any, of notices are also maintained.

4. Statistical work

(a) Disposal Reports

Various reports are generated on basis of the date of disposal, type of disposal and case

types. The following are the disposal reports available for the administration and decision

making.

• Daily list of disposed cases.

• Category-wise daily list of disposed cases.

• Reports for any period.

Type, Category-wise

Type, Judge-wise with separate category

Type, Judge-wise with separate category (including the disposal date)

Type and Year-wise

Type and Year-wise with Miscellaneous Petition-wise breakup

(b) Pendency Statements

Different reports of daily, monthly and yearly statistics are available for the administration

and decision making. Few of them are listed below,

• Type-wise list of pending cases (Seven col., Two col., and Single Col.)

• Type/s –wise yearly statement

• List of cause title for pending cases

• Type-wise yearly statement of Bench cases

• Type-wise and District-wise list of cases

• Type-wise, Category-wise and Year-wise pendency

• Type-wise and Category-wise list of cases

• Type-wise pendency as per the value of Appeal

• Type-wise pendency of Senior citizen & Date fixed matters

• Type-wise yearly pending list of Miscellaneous petitions

• Lower Court Case type/s –wise list of pending cases

• List of pending cases with Relief Amount & Prayer

(c) File Books ( Case Registers )

Case Register contains the entire particular about a case is generated through the system

which are prepared based on the data entered at various sections, including detail about

parties, advocates, lower court, section/category, district, prayer, miscellaneous petitions,

S.R./Dairy , date of filing, date of registration, prayer, relief and etc. The details are printed

through the High Speed printers installed in each section.

• File Book for Writ and Other Sections (Two, Three or more in a page)

• File Book for Miscellaneous Petitions in S.R. Stage

• Posting Books, (contain only pending cases)

With cross entries

Without cross entries

• Original Side Registers

Suit Register

Application Stage Register

Company Petition and Application Register

Judgment Information System

( JIS )

JIS, the comprehensive application system helps to maintain the Judgments/Orders of

cases pronounced at the Court. The Judgment/order issued by the Hon’ble Court is entered into

the computer by the Personal Assistants attached to the Judges. This software which is menu

driven takes the input like, case type, number & year and automatically (if required) generates the

title of the judgment/order by picking the relevant data from the LOBIS database. Once the

Judgment/order portion is typed and the same is signed by the Hon’ble Judge, the P.A. have to

transfer the same to the JIS server. These orders/Judgments are permanent documents, which

are needed for the issuance of the certified copies and for further references.

Highlights of JIS

• Capturing of Judgments / orders

• Provision to add preamble portion in the judgment / order placed in the JIS server through

the computers, installed in the Current section and Interim Sections (Civil & Criminal) .

• Maintenance of Copy Applications filed by the Advocates.

• Provision to print the address on the cover, and to generate dispatch register.

• Provision to draft Decree orders

• Provision to view/print the orders stored in the server (JIS)

1. P.A. Section

a ) Transfer the order / Judgment

This software generates the cause title of the judgment/order by using the relevant data from

the LOBIS database. Once the Judgment/order is completed and the same is signed by the

Hon’ble Judge, the P.A. have to transfer the same to the JIS server. This system maintain

the type of transfer, i.e. whether the case to given to the Law journals or to be hosted on

Web Site and etc. The transfer report is generated every day (twice) and on the basis of the

report the case bundles are sent to the current section. If the case is marked to be hosted

on Web site by the Hon’ble Judges, the same is hosted on the following web site.

http://www.judis.nic.in

More than 10,000 judgments are hosted on the website as on date and 1500 visitors visit the

webpage everyday. Judgment can be searched and viewed viz., name of the Petitioner /

Respondent, Judge Name , case number and Text / Phrase.

2. Final, Decree and Interim orders

(a) Drafting of Final order / Decrees

The preamble part of the judgment /order transferred by P.A. is added at Current Section

and Interim Sections and uploaded to the Judgments server for certified copy issue.

(b) Maintenance of Copy Applications

The copy applications for the issuance of order/judgment copies are entered into the system

at the receiving counters. The matching of copy applications with the case bundles will be

done here.

(c) Printing of Orders

The orders / judgments are printed as per the copy applications filed by the advocates along

with the copies required by the Registry in the Line Printers installed. Each stage of

preparation of certified copy is maintained in the system.

3. Interim Orders (Civil & Criminal)

(a). Drafting of Civil & Criminal order

The order is prepared in specific format used in High Court (depending upon the case type)

by using the order transferred by the P.A and cause title of a case from the LOBIS database.

The order is transferred to the server (JIS).

(b). Maintenance of Copy Applications

The copy applications for the issuance of order copies are entered into the system at the

receiving counters. The matching of copy applications with the case bundles will be done

here.

(c) Printing of Orders

The orders are printed as per the copy applications filed by the advocates along with the

copies required by the Registry in the Line Printers installed. Each stage of preparation

of certified copy will be maintained in the system.

5. Order Copy Stage

The certified copy of orders/Judgments can be obtained by submitting the copy

application along with the requisite fees. Status of copy application stage can be

viewed/printed through the system. Details about the P.A. who initially transferred to the

server, Date & Drafter who drafted the order / judgment, Date & operator who printed and

date on which the order is ready for issuance is maintained.

6. Reports

Once the order copy is ready for issuance a report is generated and displayed outside the

counter where the copies are issued. The following reports are generated by using this

system.

• Copy Application Register

• Address Register & Dispatch Register.

• Copy issuance Register

• Ready Report

• Report showing the copy applications filed for a case.

Case Status Information System

( CSIS ) A system is developed to view the status of the case filed at Madras High Court. Litigant public can

approach the Information Centre available at Madras High Court to get required information about

their cases. The system has the following search options.

• Cause title

• Case Number

• Lower Court details

• Advocate Name

• S.R. / Dairy Number

• Miscellaneous Appications

• Status of order / judgment

1. Search a case

Cases can be searched via cause title. The part of the cause title may be entered for the

searching along with the case type. The system will generate all cases matching with the

entered cause title on the screen. User can scroll the list to find out the relevant case and

click on the button displayed at the left side of each case.

Similarly the cases can be searched via advocate name, lower court details, S.R./Dairy

Number and Miscellaneous Petitions. The hardcopy of a stage alone can be had from the

information counter on payment of Rs.5

Case Status WP.123/2005

Case Status on Web site

The case status of Madras High Court is also available on the following URL. User can

browse the web site to get the stage of their case via., Case number, Party name and

advocate Name.

http://www.courtnic.nic.in

2. Case Status via Touch Screen ( E- Kiosk )

The case status of Madras High Court is also accessible via Touch Screen installed at the

Information Counter by the user himself on free of cost. User can get the stage of their case

via.,, Case number, Lower Court Number, Application Number and S.R./ Dairy Number.

Order copy stage can also be known by using this system.

7. Case Status via IVRS ( Interactive Voice Response System )

This system provides Advocates / Litigant Public to know their case status through the telephone by

dialing through any of the following options.

1. IVRS Code in which each case will be identified by a unique 9 digit code number

2. Normal Mode which provides the user to know the status of their case by selecting

suitable Section, Case Type, Case Number and Case Year.

Website of Madras High Court

The Web site of Madras High Court was launched by Justice K.G. Balakrishnan Judge,

Supreme Court on 23.04.2006. The Home Page contains the rules of the Madras High

Court, profiles of the The Hon’ble Judges, Photos and History. The Home Page of Madras

High Court can be accessed at the following URL.

http://www.hcmadras.tn.nic.in

Case Flow Monitoring System

( CFMS ) CFMS, the application which helps to monitor the flow of case bundles from one section to another

or to and fro from the lower courts. Mainly implemented in English Records & Vernacular Sections

to maintain the flow of case bundles from various sections. The inflow and outflow of cases are

recorded into the systems provided at the sections. Provision to checkup the status of the case

before receiving from the sections. Cases in a single bunch can be maintained properly. Provision

to know the status of a case bundles via system.