Fast and Secured Transmission of Electro

Q Why is it in News ?

A The Supreme Court has given its nod for e-transfer of orders to jails through the FASTER system for quick prisoner release.

Recently, in a major reform, the Supreme Court has given the go-ahead to implement a system for electronic transmission of its orders.

• It will ensure effective implementation of Article 21 (right to life).
• Earlier, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based portal ‘SUPACE’ in the judicial system aimed at assisting judges with legal research.

Q What is the FASTER system?

A 

• FASTER is an acronym form Fast and Secured Transmission of Electronic Records.
• The system is meant to ensure that undertrials are not made to wait for days on end behind bars to be released because the certified hard copies of their bail orders took time to reach the prison.
• It is conceived for delivery of orders to concerned prisons, District Courts, High Courts, as the case may be, for instantaneous delivery of orders passed by apex court through a secure communication channel.
• The process to develop the FASTER system began with the CJI’s observations in court on July 16 this year.
• The system proposes transmission of e-authenticated copies of interim orders, stay orders, bail orders and record of proceedings to the duty-holders for compliance and due execution, through a secured electronic communication channel.

Q What is need of this system ?

A 

• There have been cases where the plight of jail inmates are not released despite bail orders passed by this court due to delay in communication of such orders.
• So, it was needed to utilise information and communication technology tools for efficient transmission of court’s orders.

Q What are the Benefits offered ?

A 

• With FASTER, crucial decisions, including orders on bail and stay of arrest, can be communicated electronically to prison authorities and investigating agencies through a secure channel.
• The system would also prevent unnecessary arrests and custody of people even after the court had already granted them its protection.
• It may even communicate a stay on an execution ordered by the final court on time.