JALDI

Jaldi-Vidhi

JALDI Lab

JALDI Lab turns justice research into practical solutions through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Approach and focus areas

Design

Design

Design-thinking and architecture to transform how accessing justice looks and feels

Technology

Technology

Tech-driven solutions to increase efficiency and transparency across the system

Management

Management

Principles of management to drive judicial process reengineering and administrative reforms

Law

Law

Rules and policies to guide implementation of reforms in a fair, just and transparent manner.

Projects

Court Design Handbook for District Courts in India

Court Design Handbook for District Courts in India

The Design Handbook seeks to envision and implement a user-centric District Court Complex responsive to the needs of all diverse users, i.e., litigants, judges, lawyers, Court staff, witnesses, accused persons, police, public visitors and other stakeholders in the justice system. A principles-based framework is used to highlight associated guidelines and design considerations, for creating truly inclusive, accessible, efficient, comfortable, adaptable, and sustainable Courts where the experience of seeking and providing justice is significantly improved.

Have Any Suggestions
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScw06cS4rU9am-ajQSbIe2bDgikjYlDFSGVK8hPGVGfeZF6Xw/viewform?usp=sf_link
Projects Authors And Acknowledgements
Shreya Tripathy is a Senior Resident Fellow at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy working as part of the Justice, Access, and Lowering Delays in India (JALDI) Initiative. Priyamvadha Shivaji is a Research Fellow at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy working as part of the Justice, Access, and Lowering Delays in India (JALDI) Initiative. Brinda Sastry is an architect, urban designer, and planner with experience in formulating policies, audit frameworks, and design guidelines, with a participatory approach, to ensure inclusive and equitable design of public places. Shreya Shetty is an architect and urban design consultant, Co-Founder of 369 Ochre Studio who assisted in drafting the Harmonised Guidelines & Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021, drafted by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) & Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee released by Central Public Works Department, Government of India under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Bhagyalaxmi Madapur , Co-Founder of 369 Ochre Studio in Bengaluru, India, is an architect and urbanist who worked as a contract consultant with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the project "Sponge City: Towards Building Flood Resilient Kolkata," which involved creating educational materials-infographic handbooks, videos, and brochures aimed at strengthening the capacity of Kolkata Municipal Corporation for resilient urban services. Abubakar Shaikh is an architect and Art Lead at Autovrse. Gayatri Ganesh is an architect and Experience Designer at Autovrse. Milind D.P. is the Executive Vice President, Consultancy & Projects, BNA Technology Consulting Ltd. His division is focused on IT Infrastructure Design, Project Management and Monitoring of ICT Projects. Arun Kumar is an acoustic consultant at HMPL Consulting Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, with over 8 years of expertise in Architectural, Environmental, and Industrial Acoustics, dedicated to shaping sound environments for optimal experiences. Akshatha Hariharan is an architect exploring the realms of Visual & User experience design. Rama Raghavan is an Architectural writer and researcher based in Pune. As a pedagogue, she has curated courses in Accessibility and Universal Design. She has worked on several publications that intricately connect the built environment with socio-spatial dimensions. This report has been in the making for over two years and owes a great deal to the inputs provided by a multitude of people. The authors would like to thank the following: Deepika Kinhal (Team Lead, JALDI) for her guidance throughout the project and for reviewing the report. The authors are also grateful to Reshma Sekhar (Former Senior Resident Fellow, JALDI) for her contribution to the conceptualisation of the Handbook. Dr. Gaurav Raheja (Professor of Architecture, IIT Roorkee) and Dr. Rahela Korakhiwala (Author, From the Colonial to the Contemporary: Images, Iconography, Memories, and Performances of Law in India's High Courts) for their guidance in the conceptualisation stage. Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad (Former Chief Justice, Jammu & Kashmir High Court), Justice Ponugoti Naveen Rao (Former Acting Chief Justice, Telangana High Court) and Mr. Suresh Kogilgere (Former Registrar, Karnataka High Court) for their inputs for the project. Dr. Tanya Machado (Professor of Clinical Psychology (Rtd). Consultant Clinical Psychologist) and Dr. Ria Fernandez (Rehabilitation Specialist, Mazumdar Shaw Hospital) for their inputs on child-friendly design and providing trauma-informed design considerations for vulnerable witnesses. Akhilesh (Project Second Chance) for his inputs on safe, secure, and humane design considerations for accused persons. Nilesh Singit (independent accessibility expert) and Dr. Sanjay Jain (Professor at National Law School of India University, Bengaluru), members of the Supreme Court Committee on Accessibility, for their inputs on ensuring universal accessibility. Alok Prasanna Kumar (Co-founder and Team Lead, Vidhi Karnataka), and Vidhi Fellows Manmayi Sharma (Senior Resident Fellow, Disability Inclusion & Access), Yashaswini Basu (Outreach Lead, Nyaaya), Yogini Oke (Impact and Partnerships Fellow), Shireen Yachu (Communications Fellow, Impact Collective) and Somya Jain (Research Fellow, Disability Inclusion & Access) for their inputs on the project. Damini Ghosh (Team Lead, Disability, Inclusion & Access at Vidhi) and Prof. Sanjay Kanvinde (Senior Partner, Kanvinde Rai & Chowdhury) for peer-reviewing the Handbook and providing their invaluable feedback. Over the months of February and March 2024, four round-table consultations were held with experts from various fields, on the following themes covered in the Handbook: Institutional capacity building; Making District Courts safe, secure and comfortable; Incorporating Universal Design Principles; and Facilitating efficient and future-ready Court Complexes. The authors would like to thank the following participants for their inputs during the sessions: Justice (retd.) Ponugoti Naveen Rao (former acting Chief Justice at Telangana High Court), Prof. Jyoti Dogra (Professor at Indian Law Institute), Dr. Sheila Ramaswamy (Technical & Operational Lead at NIMHANS), Ms. Arushi Anthwal (Legal Counsel at Counsel to Secure Justice), Ms. Kushi Kushalappa (Director, Support & Rehabilitation at Enfold India), Ms. Shirisha Reddy (Program Manager at Nyaaya Kannada), Mr. Amar Jain (co-founder at Mission Accessibility), Ms. Anita Iyer Narayan (Managing Trustee, sponsor and volunteer at Ekansh Trust), Prof. Gaurav Raheja (Professor Incharge, Inclusion & Accessibility Services at IIT Roorkee), Ms. Nivedita Krishna (founder-director at PACTA), Ms. Pooja Sastry (PhD candidate in architectural history at University College, Dublin), Ms. Shruti Dixit (practising lawyer in Lucknow), Mr. Akshay Jain (Assistant Program Manager at National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People), Mr. Rahul Bajaj (co-founder at Mission Accessibility) and Mr. R. Sri Kumar (former Head of Police Force in Karnataka and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner). The Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy is an independent think-tank doing legal research to make better laws and improve governance for the public good. The JALDI Initiative is a multi-year initiative that aims to advocate for and implement evidence-based reforms to eliminate the existing backlog in Courts and ensure that cases are disposed within reasonable timelines. This report is under the aegis of JALDI Innovation Lab, a multi-disciplinary collaborative of experts to design solutions for the justice delivery systems in India. Errors, if any, rest with the authors. Contact us at jaldi@vidhilegalpolicy.in
Sub Project Title
Design Guide for User-Centric Court Complexes

design

law

Content image 1
Jaldi Lab Aspect Title
Design
Content image 1
Jaldi Lab Aspect Title
Law

Civil Litigation Process for the Digital Age - Consultation Series

Civil Litigation Process for the Digital Age - Consultation Series

The purpose of this consultation series is the formulation of a Model Civil Rules of Practice to modernise civil litigation in India’s District Judiciary. To achieve this, each paper in the series comprehensively looks into a specific stage in the lifecycle of a civil suit, questions the current processes and reimagines them with technology and simplified legal rules at its core.

Have Any Suggestions
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-9gqTL3ig4nZpW5ALoBaN9Nwqb96KGxlwZ7U8-lSBwEnCPw/viewform?
Projects Authors And Acknowledgements
Consultation Papers Authors Introduction to the series Priyamvadha Shivaji and Jyotika Randhawa User-centric e-filing system for the District Judiciary Atishya Kumar, Deepika Kinhal and Deeksha Katarki Maximising efficiency in summons delivery Atishya Kumar and Deeksha Katarki Data Management for Efficient Civil Litigation Priyamvadha Shivaji Strategies for Effective Case Management Priyamvadha Shivaji and Atishya Kumar Decoding Delays Role of IAs and measures to streamline them Jyotika Randhawa and Deeksha Katarki Rediscovering Discovery and Inspection Atishya Kumar and Deeksha Katarki Framing of Issues and Evidence Atishya Kumar and Deeksha Katarki Project Design and Management Deepika Kinhal Design Kunal Agnihotri Webpage Design Protonshub Suggested Citation: Authors, ‘Title of the Consultation Paper’, Consultation Series on Civil Litigation Process for the Digital Age , (JALDI-Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, January 2024). Example: To cite ‘Decoding Delays: Role of IAs and measures to streamline them’ Jyotika Randhawa & Deeksha Katarki, ‘Decoding Delays: Role of IAs and measures to streamline them’, Consultation Series on Civil Litigation Process for the Digital Age , (JALDI-Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, January 2024). Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank the following for their inputs: Suraj Govindaraj (Karnataka High Court) for his guidance which not only steered our efforts but also facilitated our field visits to the district courts of Ballari, Davengere, Chikkamagaluru, Ramanagara in Karnataka, and Ernakulam in Kerala and to the Kerala High Court; the judges, advocates, court staff, process servers and litigants in Ballari, Davangere, Chikkamagaluru, Ramanagara and Ernakulam district courts; Justice A. Muhamed Mushtaqe and Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan of the Kerala High Court; Mr. Gopakumar G. (Registrar (Computerisation) and Director (IT), Kerala High Court); Mr. Joseph Rajesh K.A (Deputy Registrar Kerala High Court); Professor Anil B. Suraj (Professor of Public Policy, IIM-B) for bringing together a team of experts from Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and facilitating all the discussions to help the JALDI team with this project. This team consisted of Professor Haritha Saranga (Production and Operations Management Area, Chairperson Sustainability Task Force at IIM-Bangalore) and Professor Gopal Mahapatra (Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources Management Area at IIM-B), who provided exceptional guidance during the creation of the questionnaires for the field visits; and Professor Rajendra Bandi (Information systems area, and Dean (Administration) of IIM-B), who helped analyse the need for technological interventions. Prathiksha Ullal (Research Fellow, Vidhi Karnataka) for her dedicated efforts in conducting field visits; Vidhi interns Bharath Krishna and Aayisha Niloufer for their assistance with conducting field visits, and Aarav Goel, Ojaswi Singh, Adithi Holla, M Pragna, Divyanshi Sharma, Ritam Tripathy, Kartheek Vegesana, and Kanav Khanna for assistance with research. The authors are grateful to Deepika Kinhal who leads the JALDI mission and Shruthi Naik, Senior Resident Fellow (JALDI) for their insightful comments, feedback and ideas which were instrumental in the writing of this consultation series.
Content image 1
Jaldi Lab Aspect Title
Management

Notes from the field

Beyond Conviction: Rethinking Justice Through the Eyes of the Victim

Beyond Conviction: Rethinking Justice Through the Eyes of the Victim
Beyond Conviction: Rethinking Justice Through the Eyes of the Victim

Drawing on observations of proceedings before a POCSO Court, the author reflects on what the criminal justice process might be like for a victim. Although legal safeguards and a fair trial are important, the author ponders over the victim’s experience, dignity and need for support throughout the process. Ultimately, the blog reflects the idea that justice for a victim is not only experienced in the final outcome, but throughout the journey.

Image One
/media/admin_uploads/2026/09/9910e402d6484f84b1992215b6122653_iStock-1167750504.jpg
Image Two
/media/admin_uploads/2026/09/fa2cf19892ae483ab344b8aae448942d_iStock-1330033671.jpg

Deeksha Pandey

Deeksha Pandey
Institution
West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences

Three High Courts, Three Different Rulebooks: An Intern's Notes on Learning the Rules

Three High Courts, Three Different Rulebooks: An Intern's Notes on Learning the Rules
Three High Courts, Three Different Rulebooks: An Intern's Notes on Learning the Rules

The author highlights the differences in her experiences as an intern at three different High Courts in the country. She notes that the distinct practices, procedures and even courtroom etiquette across these courts are not formally taught to interns, rather, interns are expected to observe and learn them on their own.

Image One
/media/admin_uploads/2026/08/c067dd17dffd40fa8424c620028d2465_Untitled_design.jpg
Image Two
/media/admin_uploads/2026/08/a3817f3d83de4d2db68de81965398abd_iStock-2285649558.jpg

Arya Ajayan

Arya Ajayan
Institution
Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar

The Due Process Problem in Digitized Welfare

The Due Process Problem in Digitized Welfare
The Due Process Problem in Digitized Welfare

In this piece, the author reflects about her fieldwork undertaken as part of internships with Government institutions and NGOs through which she noticed how technical bottlenecks in digital welfare delivery systems impact citizens' entitlements. She demonstrates how digital failures in implementing government schemes go beyond mere administrative oversight, and are, in fact, evidence of entrenched exclusion, adversely affecting due process.

Image One
/media/admin_uploads/2026/08/150b0bad4e074b4497f84dbc96f21355_Anugraha_blog_image_1.png
Image Two
/media/admin_uploads/2026/08/ee8bd8e26c6a4ab39a6c1295415f2e26_Anugraha_blog_image_2.png

Anugraha John

Institution
Jindal School of Government and Public Policy

Tracking the Cause List: Reflections from a First Litigation Internship

Tracking the Cause List: Reflections from a First Litigation Internship
Tracking the Cause List: Reflections from a First Litigation Internship

Reflecting on a first litigation internship at the City Civil Court in Bengaluru, this blog looks at whether the cause list can be made more accessible by introducing digital displays. Unlike the Karnataka High Court’s real time digital cause list display, trial courts still rely on physical presence in the courtroom and word-of-mouth updates.

Image One
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/96d7ca0788ec451a8d60135c578f81a2_iStock-115878537.jpg
Image Two
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/cf59b350b2384a4e8524cc43bc691229_iStock-1423550353.jpg

The Laughter Outside Courtroom No.15: On Planned Delay and the Exhaustion of Justice

The Laughter Outside Courtroom No.15: On Planned Delay and the Exhaustion of Justice
The Laughter Outside Courtroom No.15: On Planned Delay and the Exhaustion of Justice

In this piece, the author reflects on her experience as an intern at the family court, where she observed a matrimonial matter that raised questions about resource asymmetry, procedural delay and access to justice in family court litigation

Image One
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/4a22d44920054c37b6a00f0348d5f8fa_adgh5wmh1t3l53pn0n7qkgxzl4fk.jpeg
Image Two
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/c9dda6c954f64f38ae3d1e428277b5e2_4xecekt4fvvfujbunzeq1hijkyxi.jpeg

Harshita Gupta

Harshita Gupta
Institution
Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab

Inside the Supreme Court, (Un)guided: An Intern’s Notes

Inside the Supreme Court, (Un)guided: An Intern’s Notes
Inside the Supreme Court, (Un)guided: An Intern’s Notes

This blog reflects on a single day spent as an intern in the Supreme Court of India in October 2025. Using that experience, it examines the Court not only as a site of judicial authority, but as an institution sustained by largely unseen labour - support staff, security personnel, bailiffs, registry officers, clerks, and other workers who are invisible in public narratives about justice. The piece also explores how access to the Court is mediated through administrative protocols, including the SuSwagatam e-pass system, restrictions on intern entry, and the practical logistics of movement, and courtroom observation.

Image One
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/5e0f79fe76564c1fad4db8a5b6ebe75b_mxl2p2bcaeb171iarbtcxq059wkm.jpeg
Image Two
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/997e075ba66e4bd1a04405fc7efce5c3_qm6vwnszudfwgde4ecdgbjrfhy9r.jpeg

Rohini Mehta

Rohini Mehta
Institution
National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata

Architectural Exclusion: Notes from a First Visit to the Bengaluru City Civil Court

Architectural Exclusion: Notes from a First Visit to the Bengaluru City Civil Court
Architectural Exclusion: Notes from a First Visit to the Bengaluru City Civil Court

The author traces her journey visiting a court for the first time. Using JALDI's self-audit checklist, she examines shortfalls in accessibility, hygiene and maintenance at the publicly-accessible areas of the Court Complex.

Image One
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/5a5dd98f6b2a4bb48a0f1c8c101fa449_ok2fzx7bdxi80gekf7y1hummzku0.jpeg
Image Two
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/70bb7455597645a786c51ca98ed0dd40_7t515cmvy6ihw2lo1vhxztwhg1oo.jpeg

Janani Murugan

Institution
West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences

The Unseen Impact of a Divorce Settlement: Notes from a Delhi Family Court

The Unseen Impact of a Divorce Settlement: Notes from a Delhi Family Court
The Unseen Impact of a Divorce Settlement: Notes from a Delhi Family Court

The author reflects on her experience at a family court in Delhi where she was privy to a divorce settlement. She sheds light on the asymmetries that characterise post-divorce outcomes along the lines of gender and how existing legal remedies are not always capable of addressing the same.

Image One
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/78ccc094c2704cedabe9a21e0e262fb3_abxce5r57x96j16h2pukqi3yb6xz.jpeg
Image Two
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/aa398a84050b483382b8faf4bdf4eea2_JALDI_Blog_2.webp

Purvi Singla

Purvi Singla
Institution
Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab

Inside Bangalore's District Courts: Auditing Infrastructure and Access at Mayo Hall and Nyaya Degula

Inside Bangalore's District Courts: Auditing Infrastructure and Access at Mayo Hall and Nyaya Degula
Inside Bangalore's District Courts: Auditing Infrastructure and Access at Mayo Hall and Nyaya Degula

The author utilises JALDI's self-audit checklist, designed for the use of litigants and public visitors to courts, to audit infrastructure facilities at publicly-accessible areas of Bangalore's Mayo Hall (civil court) and Nyaya Degula (family court) complexes.

Image One
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/377a29fdcfd4479ebcb262b55cdd4fe6_n7xwj1dg05oxwr5yx8htjfnkm1r9.png
Image Two
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/f0be486abf824e2ba9383832e64d1ef9_fgs3daxam8qb6lgeucenx68naj0b.jpeg

Before the Bench, With Folded Hands: Notes from a Family Court in Karnataka

Before the Bench, With Folded Hands: Notes from a Family Court in Karnataka
Before the Bench, With Folded Hands: Notes from a Family Court in Karnataka

The author reflects on her observations during an internship at the Bengaluru family court, where she witnessed domestic violence and maintenance proceedings. Through these experiences, she examines how survivors often approach the legal system not only for remedies, but also for recognition, protection, and trust.

Image One
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/692a13771c4d4862af2527514287b27f_122r7hssk7clpzon3k25z53f9lkz.jpeg
Image Two
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/42f3c4a5fb29440ea97c11969c322c60_mm47fsnjq3a77u7zz6wi1kf8bm7y.jpeg

Maanya R

Maanya R
Institution
National Law School India University

Rethinking - Bar Council Registration Processes for the Future

Rethinking - Bar Council Registration Processes for the Future
Rethinking - Bar Council Registration Processes for the Future

The author describes her experience of getting registered with the Karnataka State Bar Council and suggests changes that could make the process easier for both the applicant and the bar councils.

Image One
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/f844456f0c4e4b0e879a1005b6b15799_xcsi5k3awhktju848dpvr8z9rs47.jpeg
Image Two
/media/admin_uploads/2026/07/201494ec88c24e6fa29fb2c084bd182e_p6qqux6suzu362jh2u00m9dhn0gi.jpeg

Eclipse in the Courts: Suggestions to improve the framework to disclose information under the RTI Act

Eclipse in the Courts: Suggestions to improve the framework to disclose information under the RTI Act
Eclipse in the Courts: Suggestions to improve the framework to disclose information under the RTI Act

As part of our study on tracking changes in gender diversity in the district judiciary over the last few years, JALDI filed RTI applications with High Courts across India, seeking information on appointments during this period. In this piece, the authors recount some of the challenges encountered in this process, including difficulties in making payments, tracking the status of applications, and receiving varied responses. They offer suggestions for a more streamlined and comprehensive RTI application process which will ensure that it lives up to its promise of accessible and timely information.

Manav Agrawal

Institution
National Law School of India University, Bengaluru

Between Files and Formalities: How Court Staff Shape One's Litigation Journey

Between Files and Formalities: How Court Staff Shape One's Litigation Journey
Between Files and Formalities: How Court Staff Shape One's Litigation Journey

Told through the experiences of a young lawyer, this blog highlights the crucial yet often overlooked role that court officers play in the effective administration of justice. From a lawyer's perspective, she conveys how bench clerks go beyond their job description and helps young advocates develop a complete understanding of courtroom procedure.

Making Courts Litigant-Friendly: Moving from Case Numbers to Human Beings

Making Courts Litigant-Friendly: Moving from Case Numbers to Human Beings
Making Courts Litigant-Friendly: Moving from Case Numbers to Human Beings

Litigants are perhaps the most important stakeholder for the judiciary, but how often do litigants feel that they are part of the judicial system? If a judge who holds the power to alter the course of a litigant's life makes an effort to be compassionate towards them, it would go a long way in making litigants feel that they are a part of the judicial system. In this regard, the blog explores how an act of compassion by judges not only makes litigants feel included but also builds a positive impression of the judiciary in the eyes of external observers of the court.

Raghavendra K.N

Institution
National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam

Rehabilitation Requires More Than Walls: A Visit to a Juvenile Observation Home

Rehabilitation Requires More Than Walls: A Visit to a Juvenile Observation Home
Rehabilitation Requires More Than Walls: A Visit to a Juvenile Observation Home

Following a visit to a Juvenile Observation Home which seeks to rehabilitate children in conflict with the law, the author reflects upon the need for a holistic and compassionate system for ensuring that rehabilitation truly addresses individual stories and requirements as part of a child-centric approach to justice.

Interns at District Courts: Present, But Never Belonging

Interns at District Courts: Present, But Never Belonging
Interns at District Courts: Present, But Never Belonging

In this piece, Mishtha Sharma reflects upon her experience as an intern in the first year of law school when she interned with a trial court advocate in New Delhi. The author notes that a lack of uniformity, inclusivity, and guidance during litigation internships in early years actively pushes away young minds from litigation.

The Delays of Justice: A Personal Encounter

The Delays of Justice: A Personal Encounter
The Delays of Justice: A Personal Encounter

The author recounts the story of a family friend’s 14-year property dispute, highlighting how routine delays, ex-parte orders and systemic backlogs erode public faith in the legal system, particularly for vulnerable persons.

Food at the Karnataka High Court: An advocate’s gluttonous account

Food at the Karnataka High Court: An advocate’s gluttonous account
Food at the Karnataka High Court: An advocate’s gluttonous account

A personal reflection on how food became a steady part of everyday life at the Karnataka High Court, from rushed morning kachoris and strong coffee to comforting afternoon rice baths and the small sweetness of a single gulab jamun. It traces the end-of-day rituals at the parking-lot food haven: Indianised pasta, fresh Kerala parottas, fruit chaat and masala puri; and shows how these small meals offered comfort, routine, and a way to let the weight of the day go.

The Grey Between The White And Black Of Security Systems: A Comparison Of Two High Courts

The Grey Between The White And Black Of Security Systems: A Comparison Of Two High Courts
The Grey Between The White And Black Of Security Systems: A Comparison Of Two High Courts

The author narrates her experience with security systems across two High Courts in India, the Madras High Court and the Karnataka High Court, briefly comparing it with her experience with the security process in place at the Supreme Court of Australia at New South Wales. The piece examines the thin line between effectively securing high court premises and unreasonably restricting free access to the common man.

Security

Tracking e-RTIs & the High Courts of India: Part II

Tracking e-RTIs & the High Courts of India: Part II
Tracking e-RTIs & the High Courts of India: Part II

In this second part of a series on e-RTI portals for High Courts in India, the author highlights specific technical bottlenecks and provides a comparative overview of the manner in which these portals fall short of their promise.

Tracking e-RTIs & the High Courts of India: Part I

Tracking e-RTIs & the High Courts of India: Part I
Tracking e-RTIs & the High Courts of India: Part I

In this first part of a series outlining the findings of a study of the availability and functioning of e-RTI portals for High Courts in India, the author identifies pitfalls in RTI availability and accessibility for citizens seeking justice.

Ashyam Rayyan

Institution
Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur

Forest Rights Act Implementation in Jharkhand: Field Notes

Forest Rights Act Implementation in Jharkhand: Field Notes
Forest Rights Act Implementation in Jharkhand: Field Notes

A legal awareness workshop on the rights of forest dwellers, held in Jharkhand, highlighted contradictions between law and its implementation. The low legal consciousness among participants, combined with bureaucratic inefficiency and social marginalisation - notably that of Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs) - have left them unable to claim their legal entitlements. The workshop underscored the need for legal support, community outreach, and accountability to enable forest communities to access their rights in a meaningful way.

Aditi Verma

Institution
National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi

Mahvish Kazmi

Institution
Program Manager, Kautilya Society, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy

Barriers Beyond Bars: The Unseen Distance in Juvenile Homes

Barriers Beyond Bars: The Unseen Distance in Juvenile Homes
Barriers Beyond Bars: The Unseen Distance in Juvenile Homes

In this piece, the author reflects on an eye-opening experience inside a juvenile home, questioning the gap between the rehabilitative ideals of juvenile justice laws and the harsh, impersonal realities faced by children in the system.

Amar Jain

Institution
Co-founder, Mission Accessibility

Dilemmas of Domestic Violence

Dilemmas of Domestic Violence
Dilemmas of Domestic Violence

The author reflects on their experience as an intern at the Maharashtra Commission for Women, offering firsthand insight into the complex realities of domestic violence cases.

Mahvish Kazmi

Institution
Program Manager, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy

The inevitable chaos of Family Courts

The inevitable chaos of Family Courts
The inevitable chaos of Family Courts

The authors reflect on women's experiences of Family Courts and highlight how socio-economic inequalities beyond courtrooms seep into the legal processes to disadvantage women.

Priyam Mitra

Institution
National Law School of India University, Bengaluru

Shreyas Yadav

Institution
National Law School of India University, Bengaluru

Inside Attara Katcheri: Navigating courtroom, chamber and library as a law clerk

Inside Attara Katcheri: Navigating courtroom, chamber and library as a law clerk
Inside Attara Katcheri: Navigating courtroom, chamber and library as a law clerk

Judicial clerkship at the High Court of Karnataka was a rigorous blend of legal research, courtroom exposure and judicial engagement, which shaped analytical and advocacy skills. Despite challenges like long hours and lack of formal training, it was a transformative experience that deepened legal understanding and professional growth.

Sourabh Roy

Institution
Research Fellow, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy

Arguing a case in the Delhi High Court

Arguing a case in the Delhi High Court
Arguing a case in the Delhi High Court

In the second part of the blog series, author, Alok Prasanna, reflects on his first case in the Delhi High Court, offering readers a glimpse into the Court's inner workings—from procedural intricacies to the nuanced interplay of law and society within the courtroom.

Litigation Firsts: File a case??

Litigation Firsts: File a case??
Litigation Firsts: File a case??

In the first of this two-part blog post, the author recalls his first time filing a case as a young advocate working in the chambers of the then Additional Solicitor General of India. The author recounts the emotional journey of someone figuring out how to file a case and highlights the role that experienced staff play in the journey of a young advocate.

Unveiling the Reality: A Firsthand Account of Visiting a POCSO Court

Unveiling the Reality: A Firsthand Account of Visiting a POCSO Court
Unveiling the Reality: A Firsthand Account of Visiting a POCSO Court

​The author recounts her visit to a POCSO court, highlighting challenges such as lack of maintenance of child-friendly facilities, systemic delays, inadequate victim support. The piece calls for an urgent need for holistic reforms, to ensure timely justice and comprehensive care for survivors.

Let the Leviathan answer: Trials and tribulations of Government Litigation

Let the Leviathan answer: Trials and tribulations of Government Litigation
Let the Leviathan answer: Trials and tribulations of Government Litigation

In this piece, the author, Prathiksha Ullal, walks down memory lane to share her experience as a research assistant to the Advocate General of Karnataka and contextualises the recently enacted Karnataka Government Litigation Act in relation to the trials and tribulations inherent in government litigation.

Organized v. Uncertain - What the future holds

Organized v. Uncertain - What the future holds
Organized v. Uncertain - What the future holds

Since that day, I have daily felt that this profession is unreliable, uncertain and fluctuating, yet I’ve truly begun to enjoy this profession. A young advocate reflects on his experience on either side of the bench- as a law clerk and as a practicing advocate.

Re-imagining District Courts with a User-Centric Lens

Re-imagining District Courts with a User-Centric Lens
Re-imagining District Courts with a User-Centric Lens

User-centric judicial infrastructure, which takes into account the requirements of all diverse users to improve their experience with Courts, is crucial. The authors discuss JALDI's "Court Design Handbook" initiative as a means of ensuring accessible, adaptable, efficient, safe & comfortable, and sustainable Courts in India.

Courting Time

Courting Time
Courting Time

The author recounts their experiences as a first-generation lawyer working at the Karnataka High Court. The author highlights that while litigation as a career is considered to be fast-paced, lawyers have to play a long-waiting game. The unreliability of the causelist, the impact of seasonal fluctuations, and the inadequate infrastructure make the system slow and unpredictable. Despite these frustrations, they learned the importance of patience and found that the year passed quickly.

On Cupboards and Courtrooms: Infrastructural Woes of Delhi’s District Courts

On Cupboards and Courtrooms: Infrastructural Woes of Delhi’s District Courts
On Cupboards and Courtrooms: Infrastructural Woes of Delhi’s District Courts

The article highlights the infrastructural challenges faced by district courts in Delhi. These courts, despite their historical significance, often lack basic amenities like proper seating, space, and signage. The author takes the example of the Saket District Court to demonstrate how courts can be made accessible and argues that improving the infrastructure of district courts can significantly enhance the judicial process and ensure equal access to justice for all.

Fearing Courts: An Outsider’s Perspective of the Justice System

Fearing Courts: An Outsider’s Perspective of the Justice System
Fearing Courts: An Outsider’s Perspective of the Justice System

Are courts daunting and unwelcoming spaces for newcomers? A first-time visitor recounts the bewildering experience of trying to navigate the everyday complexities of the court system, and calls for litigant-centricity to break down barriers to justice.

Paperless Courts: No longer a luxury but a necessity to keep the judiciary relevant

Paperless Courts: No longer a luxury but a necessity to keep the judiciary relevant
Paperless Courts: No longer a luxury but a necessity to keep the judiciary relevant

Based on personal experiences in the courts of Delhi and Karnataka, the author argues for the need for paperless courts in India. The piece highlights how digital systems can improve efficiency, accessibility, and environmental sustainability in the judicial process, while acknowledging the challenges of implementing such changes, particularly in overcoming resistance from those accustomed to traditional methods.

Exploring the Premises of the Criminal Justice System

Exploring the Premises of the Criminal Justice System
Exploring the Premises of the Criminal Justice System

Our encounter with the bedrock of our criminal justice system was an insight into an arrangement that pays no heed to the securitisation of its premise as an important aspect for a Court where justice is sought and served. Two law interns describe the experience of their first interaction with the criminal justice system, at the lower-most level.

Listening to the Litigants: Notes from a Field Study

Listening to the Litigants: Notes from a Field Study
Listening to the Litigants: Notes from a Field Study

The author delves into the experiences of litigants within Indian courts, highlighting the challenges faced by them and proposing innovative solutions. Through stories and reflections, the author advocates for a more litigant-centric justice system that emphasises on communication, accessibility, and support for litigants navigating legal processes.

Breaking the Cycle of Silence: Bahaar's Story

Breaking the Cycle of Silence: Bahaar's Story
Breaking the Cycle of Silence: Bahaar's Story

A new social worker recounts her first meeting with a child survivor, Bahaar, and observes how Bahaar's mother created a safe space that enabled her to disclose the abuse. This supportive environment helped Bahaar begin her healing journey. The experience underscores the vital importance of family support in a child's recovery from trauma.

Himja Dave

Institution
National Law University, Jodhpur

A Day at Mayo Hall

A Day at Mayo Hall
A Day at Mayo Hall

An intern makes her way through the historical court complex of the Mayo Hall at Bengaluru and muses about the lack of accessibility and litigant-centricity in court design.