'Judicial Time Wasted Due To Incompetence Of IT Staff': MP High Court Takes Serious View Of Glitches In New HC Website, Orders Audit
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has taken a serious view of the glitches in its newly launched website, including not supporting e-hearing and observed that judicial time was wasted due to the incompetence of the IT staff. The division bench of Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice Avanindra Kumar Singh in its order said: "That the High Court Website is not support e-hearing. There...
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has taken a serious view of the glitches in its newly launched website, including not supporting e-hearing and observed that judicial time was wasted due to the incompetence of the IT staff.
The division bench of Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice Avanindra Kumar Singh in its order said:
"That the High Court Website is not support e-hearing. There are several glitches in the website. We have requested Mr. K.S. Kushwaha, Registrar (ITCSA) to assist us. He is reported to be on his way to the Court. However, we take a very serious view that our judicial time has been wasted due to incompetency of the I.T. Staff. Let Hon'ble the Chief Justice take action against the concerned I.T. Staff".
The bench noted in its order that the Acting Chief Justice had shared a WhatsApp message with all the Judges in the group that updation of website will take 8 days and that this message was dated 25/26 August, 2026.
"More than 15 days time has lapsed since then but the condition of the website is far from satisfactory," the bench said.
The bench further noted that lawyers in open court had shared their concern that the "new website is not at all functional" and that they had submitted that old website was "better".
The court thus said that a detailed enquiry be conducted and reasons be furnished by the Registrar (ITCSA) as to why obstacle is being caused to the working of the High Court.
"Action be taken against the delinquent and matter be reported to this Bench within seven days from today. We are also direct that a team of experts from reputed companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)/Infosys/L&T Technology Services be appointed to carry out independent audit of the functioning of the I.T. System in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh. Let third party audit be carried out within 30 days and report be furnished to this Court," the bench added.
The bench was hearing an appeal seeking suspension of sentence and grant of bail to the petitioner. The court, while adjudicating the matter, noted that the High Court website was not supporting e-hearing. It was also observed that there were several glitches in the website.
While directing a third party audit the court said that this team may also include Officers from C-DOT of Government of India and MASSCOM.
The order notes that later, the system was checked in front of the Registrar (ITCSA) and in front of him also there are lot of buffering and hanging issues noted.
Case Title: Aditya Soni v State of MP, CRA-7908-2023
For Appellant: Advocates Alok Vagrecha and Abhinesh Soni
For State: Deputy Advocate General Veer Vikrant Singh
For Objector: Advocate Ashok Kumar Chourasia