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Technology
West Bengal judges to receive digital signatures within five days, ending standoff
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 03 Nov 2026, 01:01 AM
👁 15
The state government says West Bengal's SIR judges will be issued digital signatures within five days, bringing a month‑long dispute to a close.
Kolkata, West Bengal – The state administration announced that judges attached to the Special Information Repository (SIR) will be equipped with digital signatures within the next five days. The move is expected to resolve a standoff that began a month ago when the judiciary raised concerns over the security and authenticity of electronic signatures.
The dispute arose after the state’s IT department rolled out a new e‑signature platform without securing the consent of the judges, leading to a halt in several court processes that rely on digital authentication. Negotiations between the High Court and the state’s Department of Information Technology have now culminated in an agreement to issue the signatures promptly.
Officials said the digital certificates will be generated through a certified cryptographic service provider and will comply with the Indian government's e‑sign framework. Once deployed, the judges will be able to sign orders, notices and other judicial documents electronically, streamlining case management and reducing paperwork.
The resolution is welcomed by legal practitioners who had faced delays in filing and hearing schedules. The state government has pledged to monitor the implementation closely to ensure the system’s integrity and to prevent any future impasse.
The development underscores the growing reliance on technology in India’s judicial system and highlights the need for coordinated rollout of digital tools across branches of government.
The dispute arose after the state’s IT department rolled out a new e‑signature platform without securing the consent of the judges, leading to a halt in several court processes that rely on digital authentication. Negotiations between the High Court and the state’s Department of Information Technology have now culminated in an agreement to issue the signatures promptly.
Officials said the digital certificates will be generated through a certified cryptographic service provider and will comply with the Indian government's e‑sign framework. Once deployed, the judges will be able to sign orders, notices and other judicial documents electronically, streamlining case management and reducing paperwork.
The resolution is welcomed by legal practitioners who had faced delays in filing and hearing schedules. The state government has pledged to monitor the implementation closely to ensure the system’s integrity and to prevent any future impasse.
The development underscores the growing reliance on technology in India’s judicial system and highlights the need for coordinated rollout of digital tools across branches of government.