India advances digitalization of courts with eCourts Project Phase III
The creation of 4,400 e-Sewa Kendras and the digitalization of 3,108 crore pages of old data to close the digital divide, improved virtual court capabilities.
Law Minister Kiren Rijiju stated in Parliament that the Indian government is stepping up its efforts to automate the legal system. With a ₹7,210 crore budget, the recently approved eCourts Project Phase III intends to provide a single technological platform for smooth, paperless court operations over the following four years.
The creation of 4,400 e-Sewa Kendras to close the digital divide, improved virtual court capabilities, and the digitalization of 3,108 crore pages of old data are important elements. This program builds on earlier stages that effectively digitized 18,735 district and subordinate courts, enhancing technological access to justice.
Principal Elements of eCourts Project Phase III
Unified Technology Platform: By creating a smooth interface between litigants, courts, and stakeholders, the project aims to encourage a paperless environment.
Digitization of Records: To make access and management easier, some 3,108 crore pages of historical records would be converted to digital format.
e-Sewa Kendras: By creating 4,400 e-Sewa Kendras, the digital divide will be closed and citizens without access to the internet will be helped.
Online Dispute Resolution and Virtual Courts: Better virtual court features will enable online participation in procedures, cutting down on travel expenses and increasing productivity.
Artificial Intelligence Integration: To help with case management and lower pendency, AI and machine learning will be used to assess litigation trends.
This program expands on earlier stages that helped maintain justice delivery throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The administration highlights that these developments are consistent with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goals of equitable development and enhanced judicial governance.
The eCourts Project, which seeks to improve the Indian judiciary using technology, has achieved great strides thus far.
Phase I (2007-2015)
It included 14,249 district and subordinate courts with computers nationwide. Case Information Software (CIS), a LAN, and hardware were installed to give litigants and attorneys access to basic case-related services.
established websites for numerous district courts to better serve stakeholders.
taught 4,000 court employees to use CIS software and more than 14,000 judges to use Ubuntu-Linux OS.
started re-engineering processes to streamline current policies, guidelines, practices, and documentation.
launched the country’s e-Courts platform, which offers online case status updates, cause lists, daily orders, and final verdicts for more than 3 crore cases.
Phase II (2015–2022)
– Computerized 4,486 more district and subordinate courts, bringing the total number of ICT-enabled courts to 18,735.
provided extra hardware for courts that were not yet established, with 1+3 and 2+6 systems per courtroom, respectively.
Connected all court complexes with jails for video conferencing beyond routine remand and production.
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