Chief Justice unveils ‘SuSwagatam’ portal for e-passes to enter Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has unveiled the ‘SuSwagatam’ portal, providing a platform for advocates, litigants, interns, and individuals to complete online registration and request e-passes for access to the highest court in the land.

Upon the convening of a five-judge bench, presided over by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, to deliberate on a series of petitions contesting the revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted special status to the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Justice promptly introduced the availability of this online service.

“‘SuSwagatam’ is a web-based and mobile-friendly application that offers users the capability to enroll online and apply for e-passes for diverse purposes, including attending court proceedings and meeting with advocates,” stated the Chief Justice.

Justice Chandrachud remarked, “The ‘SuSwagatam’ portal underwent a successful pilot project trial starting from July 25, 2023, and has garnered favorable responses from its users.” He further noted that as of August 9, over 10,000 e-passes have been issued through the portal in the pilot phase.

“You no longer need to wait in line in the morning. All passes are now generated online. This service is accessible starting today,” clarified the Chief Justice. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was present in the courtroom, told that there used to be long queue in the morning hours at the top court’s counter to get the entry pass.

Justice Chandrachud also mentioned that a video tutorial detailing the usage of the application is accessible on the website. In a press statement released, the Supreme Court conveyed that ‘SuSwagatam’ empowers users to select diverse validity durations for their e-passes, contingent upon their requirements and police clearance certificates.

“The portal also offers secure logins tailored to different user roles, enabling them to upload their identity verification documents and capture a live photograph during the registration procedure,” it stated.

The release highlighted that users can conveniently scan the QR code featured on their e-passes, which are distributed via email and the portal, at the entry and exit points of the court premises, streamlining the entire access control entry and exit procedure.

“‘SuSwagatam’ will empower users to bypass lengthy queues and obtain a paperless entry pass (e-pass) for seamless access to the top court,” the release stated.

The release highlighted that the application’s launch aims to streamline visitor management at the top court for advocates, litigants, citizens, and all relevant stakeholders. “The access control entry/exit software empowers users to register online and request e-passes for a variety of purposes, including attending court hearings, accessing office blocks, litigants meeting with advocates, or utilizing the press lounge,” it elaborated.