BACKGROUND
In the case of Jitendra Kumar Rode vs Union of India. The appellant challenged the trial court’s decision in the high court, which revealed that the entire trial court record had been lost, was untraceable, and that the documents sent as reconstructions did not make up the pertinent trial court record. The trial court had found the appellant guilty under Sections 7, 13(1), and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and had sentenced him to a rigorous two-year sentence of Rs. 500. The Court maintained the conviction on the grounds that the partially reconstructed record, which contained just a small number of documents, such as the FIR, was insufficient.
ISSUE
whether the conviction of the appellant despite the non-availability of trial court records would amount to a violation of the right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT
In a ruling issued on April 24, a bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Krishna Murari emphasised the importance of thorough and routine record digitization for an efficient legal system. The Court noted that To uphold Article 21 rights, one must also uphold one’s freedom from any restrictions on it in the absence of a just legal process. A fair legal process gives the appeals filer the chance to contest the judgements reached by the trial court.
SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE COURT
- The Registrar General of the High Courts shall guarantee that all District Courts promptly complete the digitalization of records in connection with criminal trials and civil lawsuits, ideally before the deadline for filing an appeal under applicable procedural laws.
- Once the system of digitization and the system of authentication of the digitised documents is in place in their judgeship, the concerned District Judge must make sure that the records so digitised are verified as soon as practicable.
- A continuously updated registry of digitalized records must be kept, and monthly reports must be given to the relevant High Courts for guidance.