Chief Justice Harish Tandon flagged off two such vans at the Court premises in the presence of all the High Court Judges and Registry Officials. The vehicle is equipped with high-speed multi-network connectivity, HD video conferencing and power backup systems. Using these features, the MeSV facilitated recording evidence of a key witness, residing at Adhalia, Cuttack Sadar, in an old pending case, who could not appear before the Court owing to illness.

This was followed by an on-ground citizen awareness camp, organized by Odisha State Legal Services Authority (OSLSA) at Paga Weekly Market, Jagaptpur using the MeSV's external large multimedia display digital set-up and public address system, through which members of public were sensitized on various e-Courts digital services such as e-filing, e-payment, case status, e-Mulakat etc.

The successful first deployment of the MeSV, which removed distance as a barrier to the administration of justice and sensitized citizens about essential services of the Court, shall be followed by progressive use of the vehicle around the year for achieving wider objectives such as legal aid, more legal awareness camps, digital filing assistance, online payment of Court fees, and extending e-Courts services to villages and far-flung areas of the State, informed the Registry.

The (MeSV) was allotted to the High Court under the national initiative flagged off by CJI Surya Kant last month. The initiative is part of the e-Courts Project and is intended to address barriers faced by citizens who have limited access to physical court infrastructure, particularly those living in villages, tribal regions and other far-flung areas.

The Mobile e-Sewa Vans have been designed as mobile extensions of the e-Courts system, combining digital judicial services with legal aid and dispute-resolution facilities. The vans will also support Mobile Lok Adalats and special drives for resolving disputes without requiring citizens to travel to court complexes.