After a wait of more than 14 years, Navi Mumbai has finally received a district judge and additional sessions court along with a civil judge court, with the Belapur court being declared the first purely digital court in India. The Belapur court building had been functioning as a civil and criminal court since its inauguration in May 2017. The state government had approved the establishment of the two new courts in October of the previous year, thus eliminating the need for residents and advocates to go to Thane for their cases, saving them time and money. A detailed report regarding the same was published in the Hindustan Times.
Inauguration and Presence of Judges and Officials
The Bombay high court Justice Gautam Patel inaugurated the courts in the presence of Bombay high court justice Gauri Godse, the principal district and sessions judge of Thane Abhay Mantri, Thane collector Ashok Shingare, and Navi Mumbai municipal commissioner Rajesh Narvekar.
Efforts of Navi Mumbai Court Bar Association President
Justice Patel praised Navi Mumbai Court Bar Association (NMCBA) president Sunil Mokal for his efforts in making the Belapur court a paperless one. Despite several bar associations opposing the concept of a digital court since the introduction of compulsory e-filing in Maharashtra, Mokal approached Justice Patel and requested a paperless Belapur court. He even set up a library and obtained computers and printers for the court. Justice Patel concluded that this was the first purely digital court in India.
Paperless Sessions Court and Advocates' Efforts
Mokal expressed his pleasure that the additional district court and sessions court had finally been established, and that the sessions court would be completely paperless from Saturday onwards. He stated that it was up to the advocates to ensure maximum e-filing, utilize the facility and make it a success. Mokal also mentioned that the establishment of the new courts had been a 14-year struggle, but they had pursued the matter relentlessly until they had succeeded.
Welcoming the establishment of the new court, senior advocate Ramesh Tripathi thanked the Bar Committee for pursuing the matter and making their dream come true. He added that justice at the doorstep would now truly be possible and expressed confidence that the family court would also be established soon. He mentioned that with the first e-court in the country being established in Navi Mumbai, litigants and advocates would not have to travel all the way to Thane and would ensure maximum paperless work.
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