Automated WhatsApp Messaging Services for Stakeholders: Supreme Court Integrates WhatsApp With ICT Services for Enhanced Access to Justice

In a significant move aimed at bolstering access to justice, the Supreme Court of India has announced the integration of WhatsApp messaging with its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services. Launched in the Diamond Jubilee year of the Apex Court, the initiative is aimed at strengthening the right to access justice and enhancing transparency in the judicial system at the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud revealed the initiative, highlighting its potential to streamline communication and improve efficiency within the legal system.

"In the 75th year, the Supreme Court launches an initiative to strengthen access to justice by integration of WhatsApp messages with the IT services of the Supreme Court," the CJI said

Through this service, Advocates-on-Record, Party-in-Person will receive automated messages regarding- Electronic filing; Cause list; Orders, Judgments. All members of the Bar and the Registry officials will be able to receive cause list as and when published by the Registry.

Automated messages through WhatsApp will be received on successful filing of cases, notification about objections being marked by the Registry in the cases filed, and subsequent registration of cases. Further, in addition to accessing Orders, Judgments, through the website, now stakeholders will receive the same on their mobile devices.

The Court's official WhatsApp number, 8767687676, will facilitate one-way communication, marking a significant step towards digitization and reducing paper usage. This number is neither a call-back nor reply-back number.

CJI Chandrachud emphasized the transformative impact of the initiative, noting that it will not only modernize court procedures but also expand access to justice, particularly for individuals in remote areas. The integration of WhatsApp messaging is part of broader efforts to digitize court services, with the Supreme Court migrating its operations to the Meghraj cloud 2.0 infrastructure developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

The announcement was made by the CJI before a nine-judge bench headed by him commenced the hearing on a vexed legal question arising from the Petitions whether private properties can be considered "material resources of the community" under Article 39(b) of the Constitution, which is a part of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).