Cuttack: In a good digital initiative, e-Libraries for the Bar Associations of 24 outlying stations of Odisha were inaugurated by Justice K.M. Joseph, Judge, Supreme Court of India in virtual mode.
Dr. Justice S. Muralidhar, Chief Justice and Judges of High Court of Orissa were present on the occasion. The District Judges, Judicial Officers and Office Bearers of the Bar Associations of the respective Districts virtually attended the event.
Since last two years the High Court of Orissa has been endeavouring to reach out to the people who are in need of justice. Providing e-Libraries to the Bar Associations of districts and outlying stations is one of the many initiatives undertaken by the High Court of Orissa to strengthen the justice delivery system. e-Libraries enable the lawyers to have access to various decisions and books readily available to them digitally. It helps in easy information retrieval. The user can easily search the desired information by using any search term. The e-Library for the lawyers is more beneficial to the young lawyers as they are relatively new to the profession and might not be having sufficient resources to subscribe to many journals and books. The digital contents can be updated without having to purchase any additional physical book. It has advantage over traditional libraries in terms of space.
Digital libraries can hold much data in very little physical space. Use of digital libraries is cost effective compared to physical libraries.
Last year on 23rd March, the High Court of Orissa inaugurated 30 e-Libraries for the Bar of all the District Headquarters stations and 2 for the outlying stations at Koraput and Rourkela. Those Bar members have been immensely benefited from the facility.
In view of the encouraging feedback from the District Bar Associations, the High Court decided to open e-libraries for the Bar of the 24 outlying stations in the districts where there are at least 100 advocates practicing. The places where the e-libraries are being opened are Titlagarh in the Judgeship
of Bolangir, Soro, Nilgiri and Jaleswar in the Judgeship of Balasore, Padampur in the Judgeship of Bargarh, Athgarh, Banki and Salipur in the Judgeship of Cuttack, Kamakhyanagar in the Judgeship of Dhenkanal, Bhanjanagar and Aska in the Judgeship of Ganjam, Kujang in the Judgeship of Jagatsinghpur, Dharamgarh in the Judgeship of Kalahanadi, Pattamundai in the Judgeship of Kendrapara, Anandpur in the Judgeship of Keonjhar, Khordha Road and Banpur in the Judgeship of Khordha, Rairangpur, Karanjia and Udala in the Judgeship of Mayurbhanj, Umerkote in the Judgeship of Nabarangpur, Ranpur in the Judgeship of Nayagrah, Gunpur in the Judgeship of Rayagada and Rajgangpur in the Judgeship of Sundergarh.
A separate cabin with workstation having computer system and internet connectivity has been set up inside the Bar halls. The purpose for providing the e-libraries is to facilitate the advocates to do legal research and represent their clients in the best possible manner before the Courts.
The inauguration Delivering the welcome address Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, Chairman, High Court’s Library Committee, highlighted the importance of library in legal profession. He expressed hope that provision of e-Libraries would help the young lawyers in remaining updated in developments in the field of law.
Speaking on the occasion Chief Justice Dr. S. Muralidhar highlighted the objectives of providing e-Libraries to the Bar in the Districts and outlying stations. Chief Justice said the idea is to uplift the level of the Bar across the State and to facilitate young lawyers for legal research. He said lack of means to have books would not be a constraint for legal research for young lawyers even in remote places. He added Bar is nursery to young Judges and by strengthening the Bar ultimately the judiciary will be strengthened. The Chief Justice announced that online services of AIR and Manupatrafast.in and the CD ROM version of Orissa Law Times are being provided to the e-Libraries apart from the link e-SCR of the Supreme Court of India where all the Judgments of the Supreme Court would be available.
Delivering the keynote address Justice K.M. Joseph highlighted the duties involved in legal profession referring to the constitutional provisions and ethics. Justice Joseph said the Bar should be in a position to deliver on the promise of the Constitution to serve the people. He added that acquisition of a law degree is not merely a means to earn livelihood but a humble beginning for an arduous and never ending quest of knowledge. Justice Joseph further said he considered the legal profession to be the greatest. It had the potential to make or mar the lives of countrymen. He said a lawyer is required to observe professional ethics and provide the best possible service to the litigants for which learning is of pivotal importance. Justice Joseph said a lawyer cannot afford to be ignorant of law and rather should be a perpetual student of law. He said the people of the country have the right to expect that their lives and properties are safe in the hands of lawyers.
Stressing upon the importance of language in legal profession Justice Joseph urged the young lawyers to be familiar with the judgments of the High Courts and Supreme Court and to read not only law but also literature.
Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra, Member, High Court Library Committee proposed the vote of thanks.
This initiative of the High Court has been hailed by the legal fraternity of the State.