COMPUTERISATION OF COURTS

COMPUTERISATION OF COURTS

As part of the National eGovernance Plan, the eCourts Mission Mode Project is under implementation for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) development of the Indian Judiciary based on the “National Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of Information and Communication Technology in the Indian Judiciary”. This project is being implemented by the Department of Justice, in close coordination with the eCommittee, Supreme Court of India.

The phase I of the eCourts Mission Mode Project was implemented during 2011-2015, which focused on the basics of computerisation like setting up computer hardware, ensuring internet connectivity, and operationalizing the e-Courts platform. Against the financial outlay of Rs.935 crore, a total expenditure of Rs.639.41 crore was incurred. The following initiatives were undertaken in this phase:

3.       The phase II of the eCourts Mission Mode Project was implemented during 2015-2023, which focused mainly on ICT enablement of District & Subordinate Courts and various citizen centric initiatives. Against the financial outlay of Rs.1670 crores, an amount of Rs. 1668.43 crore was spent. Till 2023, 18,735 courts have been computerised. The following initiatives have been undertaken to make justice accessible and available for all stakeholders through digitization of legal procedures, thereby enhancing efficiency and transparency in the legal system: –

The Union Cabinet on 13.09.2023 has approved Phase-III of eCourts Project, at an outlay of Rs.7,210 crore for a period of 4 years starting from 2023 onwards. The e-Courts Phase-III aims to usher in a regime of maximum ease of justice by moving towards digital, online and paperless courts through digitization of the entire court records including legacy records and by bringing in universalization of e-Filing/ e-Payments through saturation of all court complexes with e-SewaKendras. It will put in place intelligent smart systems enabling data-based decision making for judges and registries while scheduling or prioritizing cases. The main objective of the Phase-III is to create a unified technology platform for the judiciary, which will provide a seamless and paperless interface between the courts, the litigants and other stakeholders. The main features of the eCourts Phase-III includes Digitisation of the court records, both legacy records and pending cases; state of the art and latest Cloud based data repository for easy retrieval;  e-Sewa Kendras  planned to be established at all court complexes across India to provide easy access to the citizen who is not having the necessary know-how or computer equipments; Paperless Courts aiming to bring court proceedings under a digital format  leading to  transparency and accountability in the Indian Judiciary and speedy disposal of cases; Video conferencing facilities to be expanded to cover district hospitals, more courts and jails, police station, etc.; Live Streaming of court proceedings thereby allowing the stakeholder as well as students to see the live working of the Courts thereby encouraging transparency in the court system; Online Courts aimed at eliminating the presence of litigants or lawyers in the court, thus saving time and money; Online Dispute Resolution to work towards providing an alternative dispute resolution machinery; expansion of scope of Virtual Courts beyond adjudication of traffic challans. The project will help provide a smoother user experience by building a “smart” ecosystem. Registries will have less data entry and minimal file scrutiny facilitating better decision-making and policy planning. The eCourts Phase-III may prove to be a game changer in ensuring ease of justice by making the Court experience convenient, inexpensive and hassle free to all the citizens of the country.

Under eCourts Phase III, out of Rs. 825 crores allotted in FY 23-24, an expenditure of Rs 768.25 Cr (93.11%) has been made. During FY 2024-25, an allocation of Rs 1500 Cr. in the BE has been received and Rs 465.74crore has already been released.

(c): The State-wise details of operational eCourts across the country is at Annexure-I.

 

 

 

 

Annexure-I

Statement referred to in reply of Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2030 for 08/08/2024 regarding Computerization of courts. The State-wise details of operational eCourts in the country is as under:

S.No

High Court

State

Courts

1

Allahabad

Uttar Pradesh

2222

2

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

617

3

Bombay

Dadra and Nagar Haveli

3

Daman and Diu

2

Goa

39

Maharashtra

2157

4

Calcutta

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

14

West Bengal

827

5

Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh

434

6

Delhi

Delhi

681

7

Gauhati

Arunachal Pradesh

28

Assam

408

Mizoram

69

Nagaland

37

8

Gujarat

Gujarat

1268

9

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh

162

10

Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh

Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh

218

11

Jharkhand

Jharkhand

447

12

Karnataka

Karnataka

1031

13

Kerala

Kerala

484

Lakshadweep

3

14

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

1363

15

Madras

Puducherry

24

Tamil Nadu

1124

16

Manipur

Manipur

38

17

Meghalaya

Meghalaya

42

18

Orissa

Odisha

686

19

Patna

Bihar

1142

20

Punjab & Haryana

Chandigarh

30

Haryana

500

Punjab

541

21

Rajasthan

Rajasthan

1240

22

Sikkim

Sikkim

23

23

Telangana

Telangana

476

24

Tripura

Tripura

84

25

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand

271

 

Total

 

18735

 

This information was given by the MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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