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The Indian Union Cabinet approved Phase-III of the eCourts Project, allocating Rs.7,210 crore (approximately US$ 868 million) over four years to advance the ICT development of the Indian judiciary. This phase builds upon the successes of Phases I and II, aiming to establish a fully digital, online, and paperless court system by digitising all court records, including legacy files. The initiative also seeks to universalise e-Filing and e-Payments through the establishment of e-Sewa Kendras in all court complexes.
eCourts Phase-III is designed to create a unified technology platform that enhances data-based decision-making for judges and court registries, ensuring a seamless and paperless interaction between the courts, litigants, and other stakeholders. The project aims to improve user experience by building a “smart” judicial ecosystem, making the court process more convenient and efficient for citizens.
Key components of Phase-III include the digitisation of 3,108 crore pages of legacy records, the development of cloud infrastructure, the establishment of 4,400 fully functional e-Sewa Kendras, and the integration of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
Funding for the project is managed by the Department of Justice, which distributes funds based on recommendations from the eCommittee of the Supreme Court of India. In FY 2023-24, Rs.825 crore (approximately US$ 100 million) was allocated, with Rs.768.25 crore (approximately US$ 93 million) spent across various agencies. For FY 2024-25, Rs.1,500 crore (approximately US$ 182 million) has been allocated, with Rs.465.74 crore (approximately US$ 56 million) spent so far.
A third-party evaluation by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has highlighted the project’s successes in increasing case filings, improving access to information, and enhancing court time management. Judges and court officials have expressed high satisfaction with the ICT facilities and training provided, noting improvements in case law access and a reduction in case pendency.
eCourts Phase-III is implemented in collaboration with the eCommittee, the Department of Justice, and the respective High Courts, which handle the project on a decentralised basis. The Detailed Project Report for Phase-III was approved by the eCommittee on October 21, 2022, laying the groundwork for the Union Cabinet’s approval. The eCommittee has also issued Standard Operating Procedures for activities such as video conferencing, e-Filing, and digitisation to guide the High Courts.
As part of the eCourts project, seven platforms have been established to deliver real-time information on case status, cause lists, judgments, and more. These include SMS Push and Pull services (200,000 SMS sent daily), Email notifications (250,000 sent daily), a multilingual and tactile eCourts services portal (3.5 million hits daily), Judicial Service Centres (JSCs), and Info Kiosks. Additionally, Electronic Case Management Tools (ECMT) include a mobile app with a total of 23.6 million downloads as of April 30, 2024, and the JustIS app for judges, which has 19,893 downloads as of May 31, 2024.
The e-Courts project, based on the National Policy and Action Plan for ICT in the Indian Judiciary (2005) from the e-Committee of the Supreme Court of India, aims to transform the Indian judiciary through ICT integration. The project seeks to make the justice system more affordable and efficient by providing comprehensive ICT support to courts.
Included in Phase-1 of the e-Courts Integrated Mission Mode Project, the government approved the computerisation of 14,249 district and subordinate courts with a budget of Rs. 935 crore (approximately US$ 113 million). The project’s goal is to deliver essential services to litigants, lawyers, and the judiciary through the universal computerisation of these courts and to enhance the ICT capabilities of the justice system.
As eCourts Phase-III progresses, it is set to revolutionise the Indian judiciary by delivering a more efficient, paperless court system that enhances accessibility and streamlines judicial processes.
