Yesterday, On 25th July, Law Minister Arjun Meghwal informed Parliament about the significant strides towards digitalizing courts under the E-court Phase-III project. Responding to MPs Krishan Lal Panwar and Laxmikant Bajapyee, Meghwal emphasized the initiative’s goal of creating a “smart” judicial ecosystem to improve user experience.
New Delhi: Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal addressed Parliament on Thursday, discussing the significant advancements in the digitalisation of courts and the push towards technology-enabled courtrooms.
Responding to inquiries from MPs Krishan Lal Panwar and Laxmikant Bajapyee, Meghwal emphasized the E-court Phase-III project, which aims to create a “smart judicial ecosystem” to enhance user experience.
The E-court Phase-III initiative is designed to revolutionize the justice system by making court procedures more convenient, cost-effective, and user-friendly for citizens. This phase follows the successful completion of Phase II of the E-courts Mission Mode project.
The Union Cabinet approved Phase-III on September 13, 2023, with a budget allocation of Rs 7,210 crore over four years, starting in 2023.
Phase III focuses on the implementation of intelligent systems that support data-driven decision-making for judges and court registries, aiding in the efficient management and prioritization of cases.
The primary objective is to establish a unified technology platform that streamlines and digitizes interactions between courts, litigants, and other stakeholders.
Key components of E-courts Phase III include the digitization of Rs 3,108 crore worth of legacy records, the development of cloud infrastructure, the establishment of 4,400 fully functional eSewa Kendras in court complexes, and the integration of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
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Detailed financial and project information is provided in Annexure II. Funds for the E-courts Mission Mode Project are allocated to various High Courts based on recommendations from the E-committee of the Supreme Court of India.
This ambitious initiative is expected to significantly transform the Indian judicial system, making it more efficient and accessible to the public.