E- Courts

Introduction

• Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Indian

Judiciary and in Indian Courts needs rejuvenation.
• The successful use of e-governance for Indian e-judiciary model requires a techno-
legal e-court framework.
• Similarly, we also need to train judges and lawyers regarding not only e-courts but also
for laws like cyber law and telecommunication laws. There is an emergent need of
judicial and legal reforms in India so that courts in India can meet the expectations of
the 21st Century.
• Information and Communication technology (ICT) can be a panacea for the
overburdened judicial system of India.
• We can effectively use ICT for establishment of E-Courts in India so that E-Judiciary in
India can be a reality.

E courts

The e-courts project was conceptualised on the basis of the “National Policy and Action Plan
for Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Indian
Judiciary – 2005” submitted by the e-Committee, Supreme Court of India.

The aim is to transform the Indian judiciary through the ICT enablement of courts.
It is to enhance judicial productivity, qualitatively and quantitatively, to make the
judicial delivery system affordable, accessible, predictable, cost-effective, reliable and
transparent.
The e-courts project is undertaken by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and
Justice, GoI.
Phase 1 of the project started in 2007 and ended in 2015. Phase 2 was sanctioned by
the government in August 2015 and is currently underway.
Some of the features of the project include the National Judicial Data Grid NJDG,
e -Payment (of court fees, fines, etc.), National Service and Tracking of Electronic
Process (NSTEP) which provides an electronic mechanism to bailiffs by providing PDAs
for speedy, transparent and timely delivery of process, virtual courts, e Challans, etc.

E-Courts Project Objectives:

1. To provide efficient & time-bound citizen-centric service delivery as detailed in eCourt

Project Litigant’s Charter.

2. To develop, install & implement decision support systems in courts.

 3. To automate the processes to provide transparency in the accessibility of information
to its stakeholders.

4. To enhance judicial productivity, both qualitatively & quantitatively, to make the justice
delivery system affordable, accessible, cost-effective, predictable, reliable and
transparent.

Some of the newly added features under the e-courts project are mentioned below:

A. Virtual Justice Clock

• To display vital statistics of the justice delivery system at the court level giving
the details of the cases instituted, cases disposed of and pending cases on a
daily, weekly and monthly basis.

• This initiative is an effort to make the working of courts transparent and

accountable.

• Any person can access the Virtual Justice Clock on the District Court website.

B. JustIS Mobile App. 2.0

• It is a tool that judicial officers can use to effectively manage their courts and
cases by keeping track of the cases that are pending before their court as well
as the judges who work under them.

• Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts can now monitor the
pendency and disposal of all the states and districts under their jurisdiction.

C. Digital Court

• It is an initiative to make the case records available to the judge in digitised

form to enable the transition to paperless courts.

D. S3WaaS Websites

• It is a cloud service developed for government entities to generate secure,

scalable and sugamya (accessible) websites.

• It is a framework to generate, configure, deploy and manage websites for

publishing specified information and services related to district judiciary.

• It is multilingual, citizen-friendly and also friendly for physically challenged

persons.
Importance of ICT in Indian Courts

1. Enhancing Efficiency and Reducing Case Backlogs:- One of the most significant
concerns in the Indian judiciary is the massive backlog of cases. Courts often function
with limited resources, shortage of judges, and outdated manual systems,
leading to prolonged litigation processes. ICT helps mitigate these issues in several
ways:
a) E-Filing and Digital Case Management:
o Traditionally, filing a case in court involved lengthy paperwork
and bureaucratic hurdles. With e-filing systems, litigants can
submit cases electronically, reducing paperwork and processing times.
o Courts can maintain digital records, ensuring quick retrieval of case
details.
b) Automated Case Allocation:
✓ Manual case allocation often results in an uneven workload distribution
among judges.
✓ AI-based systems ensure that cases are assigned based on a judge’s
availability and specialization, reducing inefficiencies.
c) Electronic Summons and Notices:
✓ Traditional summons delivery is time-consuming and inefficient, often
leading to unnecessary delays in trials.
✓ The adoption of SMS, email, and WhatsApp-based summons has
significantly reduced this delay, ensuring parties receive notices on
time.
d) AI-Assisted Legal Research:
✓ Judges and lawyers spend a significant amount of time researching
precedents.
✓ AI-powered tools such as SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance
in Court Efficiency) help analyze case files, summarize judgments, and
suggest relevant case laws, improving decision-making speed
2. Improving Transparency and Public Access to Justice
A transparent and accessible judiciary is fundamental to democratic governance. ICT
ensures that legal information is openly available to the public, reducing reliance on
intermediaries.
a) Online Case Status Tracking:
- Litigants can track their case progress through court websites and
mobile apps, eliminating the need for frequent court visits.
b) Digitization of Court Judgments: The Supreme Court and High Courts have
been digitizing judgments and making them publicly available on official
websites. This initiative ensures that legal knowledge is accessible to everyone.
 c) Live Streaming of Court Proceedings:- The Supreme Court has begun live
streaming hearings of important cases, making judicial proceedings more
transparent and enhancing public confidence in the legal system.
3. Cost Reduction and Environmental Benefits:- The use of ICT has significantly lowered
litigation costs and reduced environmental impact.
i. Reduced Paper Usage: Courts generate thousands of documents daily,
leading to high paper consumption. With digital filing and record-
keeping, courts are becoming more sustainable.
ii. Lower Travel and Litigation Costs: Virtual hearings eliminate the need for
litigants and lawyers to travel, reducing expenses and making justice more
accessible.
iii. Efficient Court Resource Management: Automated scheduling and online
hearings reduce administrative costs and improve the court’s efficiency.
4. Application of ICT in Court Administration
a) E-Courts Mission Mode Project:- The E-Courts Project, launched under the
National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), is aimed at digitizing Indian courts. It
includes:-
i. Case Information System (CIS): Maintains a centralized database for
case details
ii. National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG): Provides real-time updates on
case statistics across India
iii. E-Filing and E-Payments: Enables litigants to file cases and pay court
fees online, reducing delays.
iv. Virtual Courts: Help resolve minor offenses like traffic challans online,
eliminating the need for physical appearances.
b) Video Conferencing in Court Proceedings:- Post-COVID-19, video conferencing
has become a crucial aspect of judicial proceedings.
i. Convenience for Litigants and Lawyers: Cases can be heard remotely,
saving time and money.
ii. Virtual Hearings for Undertrial Prisoners: Reduces security risks and
costs associated with prisoner transportation.
iii. Hybrid Mode Hearings: Many High Courts and tribunals now conduct
hearings in both physical and virtual modes
c) Artificial Intelligence in Judiciary
i. SUPACE: AI-based system that helps judges analyze and summarize case
files.
ii. Predictive Analytics: AI can predict case outcomes based on past
judgments.
d) Online Dispute Resolution (ODR)
- Used in commercial disputes, consumer complaints, and family
disputes.
 - Platforms like SAMA, Agami, and Presolv360 provide fast and
cost-effectiveresolutions.
e) Blockchain Technology in Legal Proceedings
- Ensuring tamper-proof legal records
- Facilitating smart contracts for legal agreements
- Securing evidence through digital timestamps