Digital Transformation of Indian Judiciary

Digital Courts Project under National E-Governance Plan

Overview:

• Funding and Objective:
  • The third phase of the e-Courts Mission Mode Project is being implemented with a budget of ₹7210 crore under the National E-Governance Plan.
  • Aim: To enhance judicial productivity in terms of quality and quantity by leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Key Features:

• Budget Allocation:
  • ₹2038.40 crore allocated specifically for the digitization of old and new court documents.
• Judicial Productivity:
  • Aims to make the judicial system more accessible, affordable, reliable, and transparent.

Digitization Progress:

• By November 30, 2025:
  • Expected digitization of over 224 crore pages in High Courts and 354 crore pages in District and subordinate courts.

Accessibility:

• National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG):
  • Provides public access to information on pending and disposed cases across the Supreme Court, High Courts, and District Courts.
  • Interactive dashboards facilitate visual analytics and help in policy-making based on workload assessment.

Digital Resources and Tools:

• Case Information System (CIS):

  • Allows publication of case lists, daily proceedings, judgments, and orders accessible via:
    • Websites: www.hcservices.ecourts.gov.in
    • Mobile apps
    • Supreme Court's official website: http://www.sci.gov.in

• Decision Search Portal:

  • Collection of final orders and judgments from India's High Courts and Supreme Court, allowing free searches based on various criteria.

• Real-Time Updates:

  • SMS alerts, email notifications, and mobile app services ensure real-time availability of hearing lists and court orders.

Technology Integration:

• Artificial Intelligence Initiatives:
  • A suite of AI-based tools developed to assist judges with legal research and document analysis.
  • LEGRAA (Legal Research Assistance Tool): Aided analysis of legal documents.
  • Digital Courts 2.1: A comprehensive management system for case-related information, accessible anywhere at any time by judicial officers.

Additional Features in Digital Courts:

• AI-powered features include:
  • Voice-to-text (ASR) for writing orders and judgments.
  • Translation services (Panini).
  • Auto-fill templates for drafting orders.

Legislative Mention:

• Minister of Law and Justice: Information presented in Rajya Sabha by Minister of Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal.

This summary encapsulates significant elements regarding the digitization efforts within the Indian judiciary aimed at enhancing transparency, accessibility, and efficiency through modern technology implementations and funding provisions.