Jammu, March 12 (Scoop News)-In a significant step towards modernization of the justice delivery system, the Court of the Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC), Ramban has become the first court in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir to initiate virtual hearings of labour cases, enabling litigants and advocates to participate in proceedings through digital platforms.
The initiative marks a major stride towards accessible and technology-driven justice and has been widely appreciated by the people of Ramban district. Members of the legal fraternity and the common masses have congratulated the Administration, particularly the Labour Commissioner, Jammu & Kashmir and District Development Commissioner Ramban, for ensuring the establishment of virtual court hearing facilities in the district.
Speaking to the media, the Assistant Labour Commissioner Ramban stated that the initiative has been started with the objective of ensuring speedy disposal of pending cases and reducing inconvenience faced by litigants, particularly those belonging to remote and economically weaker sections of society.
He further stated:
“The introduction of virtual hearings in ALC Court Ramban will significantly help in early disposal of cases and will reduce the hardships faced by poor and downtrodden litigants who often have to travel long distances to attend court proceedings.”
He added that this initiative is also aimed at making the justice delivery mechanism more efficient, transparent and accessible, especially for workers and labourers residing in far-flung areas of the district.
The move is in continuation of the Digital India initiative of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, which emphasizes the integration of digital technologies into governance systems for improving transparency and public service delivery.
Across the country, the judiciary has been progressively adopting digital infrastructure through the e-Courts Mission Mode Project, a national initiative launched by the Government of India to digitize and modernize court processes and improve access to justice.
The concept of virtual courts and online hearings enables litigants and lawyers to participate in proceedings through video conferencing without the need for physical presence, thereby saving time, reducing litigation costs and improving overall judicial efficiency.
The introduction of virtual hearings in Ramban is expected to benefit workers, employers and litigants from remote areas, while also reducing case pendency and ensuring quicker resolution of labour disputes.
Local residents, lawyers and civil society members have welcomed the initiative and expressed hope that similar digital reforms would soon be implemented in other quasi-judicial forums across the Union Territory.
The initiative is being viewed as a landmark step in strengthening digital justice delivery in Jammu & Kashmir, aligning the district administration with the national vision of technology-enabled governance and accessible justice for all.
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