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As part of the National eGovernance Plan, the eCourts Mission Mode Project represents a significant stride in digitalising the Indian judiciary through modern, digital technologies. Guided by the “National Policy and Action Plan for ICT in the Indian Judiciary,” this initiative is led by the Department of Justice and the eCommittee of the Supreme Court of India.
The first phase of the eCourts Mission Mode Project (2011-2015) aimed to establish essential technological infrastructure for court upgradation. With a budget of ₹935 crore (US$113 million) and an expenditure of ₹639.41 crore (US$76 million), it computerised 14,249 District and Subordinate courts, setting up LANs in 13,683 courts and installing hardware and software in 13,436 and 13,672 courts, respectively.
Laptops were given to 14,309 judicial officers, with over 14,000 trained in UBUNTU-Linux, and more than 3,900 court staff trained in the Case Information System (CIS). Video conferencing was set up between 493 court complexes and 347 jails, boosting connectivity and efficiency.
The second phase, from 2015 to 2023, further integrated ICT into District and Subordinate Courts and introduced citizen-centric initiatives. With a budget of ₹1,670 crore (about US$200 million), the project spent ₹1,668.43 crore (approximately US$199 million). By the end of this phase, 18,735 courts were computerised. Major achievements included Wide Area Network (WAN) connectivity in 99.4% of targeted court complexes, and the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) now hosts data on over 260 million cases and 269 million orders and judgments.
Further improvements included the implementation of Case Information Software (CIS) based on Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS), with National Core Version 3.2 in District Courts and Version 1.0 in High Courts. Seven platforms were created for real-time information on case statuses through SMS, Email, and multilingual eCourts services portals, with 2.47 crore (24.7 million) downloads of mobile apps for lawyers and 20,362 downloads of the JustIS app for judges.
India has emerged as a global leader in conducting court hearings via video conferencing, with District and Subordinate courts handling 3.22 crore (32.2 million) cases and the Supreme Court managing 7.54 lakh (754,000) hearings by mid-2024. Live streaming of court proceedings was introduced in several High Courts and the Supreme Court, promoting greater transparency.
Virtual Courts were established in 21 States/UTs, addressing over 5.26 crore (52.6 million) traffic challan cases and collecting over ₹579.40 crore (approximately US$70 million) in fines. A new e-filing system (version 3.0) was rolled out, and electronic payments were implemented in 22 High Courts.
To bridge the digital divide, 1,072 eSewa Kendras were set up to assist users with e-filing and access to eCourts services. A new “Judgment Search” portal was launched, offering free access to detailed case information, and 39 “Justice Clocks” were installed in High Courts to enhance public awareness of the justice sector.
As OpenGov Asia reported, the Union Cabinet approved Phase III of the eCourts Project, with an allocation of ₹7,210 crore (about US$865 million) for the next four years. This phase advances Phases I and II, digitising all court records, including legacy data, and establishing a cloud-based repository.
It will create a digital, paperless court system and implement e-filing and e-payments with e-Sewa Kendras. It will also enhance online dispute resolution and expand video conferencing and Virtual Court capabilities.
For FY 2023-24, ₹825 crore (about US$99 million) has been allocated, with ₹768.25 crore (around US$92 million) spent. For FY 2024-25, ₹1,500 crore (about US$180 million) has been set aside, with ₹465.74 crore (approximately US$56 million) already released.
The eCourts Phase-III project is set to revolutionise the Indian judiciary, making the court experience more efficient, transparent, and accessible to all citizens, thus marking a significant step towards a digital and paperless judicial system.
