India’s first fully paperless district judiciary has been launched in Wayanad, marking a major shift in court functioning. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant described the initiative as “transformative,” highlighting its role in improving access, transparency, and environmental sustainability.
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KERALA: Wayanad has become the country’s first district to operate an entirely paperless judiciary, following the launch of a comprehensive digital court framework in Kalpetta on Tuesday that enables electronic case filing, real-time record access, and eco-friendly, citizen-centric justice.
The initiative was inaugurated virtually by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a function held at the Kerala High Court Auditorium.
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Speaking at the launch, Justice Surya Kant described the move as a fundamental transformation in the way justice is delivered.
“Courts are not just places, but essential public services,” he said, adding that the digital shift represents a constitutional evolution in access to justice.
All case filings in the Kalpetta judicial district will now be submitted and processed electronically through the District Court Case Management System (DCMS), an in-house platform developed by the Kerala High Court. The system allows real-time access to records for judges, lawyers, and litigants, removing the need for physical files.
Justice Kant stressed that reducing paper usage is not merely an administrative reform but an ethical one.
“Justice should not come at the cost of environmental resources,” he said, describing the initiative as a step toward green jurisprudence.
He also pointed out that paper-based courts often favoured those closer to court records.
“With digital case files, access to justice no longer depends on proximity or speed of filing,” he noted, explaining that litigants in remote areas now enjoy the same level of access as those in town centres.
Urging members of the legal fraternity to adapt, the Chief Justice clarified that embracing technology does not dilute legal tradition.
“Tradition means preserving values, not outdated practices,” he said, adding that technology is meant to support human judgment, not replace it.
Following his address, Justice Kant unveiled a digital plaque to formally mark the launch of the paperless court system.
Delivering the keynote address, Justice Vikram Nath, Chairperson of the Supreme Court eCommittee, said the project reflects a carefully planned reform aimed at bringing courts closer to citizens.
“Every reform must answer one question, does it make justice more accessible?” he said, adding that Wayanad’s success shows that innovation is not limited to major cities.
Kerala High Court Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar, in his presidential address, highlighted the operational benefits of the new system.
“Paperless courts improve transparency, reduce delays and lower administrative costs,” he said, calling the initiative a step toward a more citizen-friendly justice system.
In the special address, Dr Justice A K Jayasankaran Nambiar explained that the AI tools integrated into the system rely on verified data generated by DCMS.
“The strength of this platform lies in the reliability of its data,” he said, noting that the courts avoided dependence on proprietary software by building their own systems.
Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V explained that the digital transition enhances, rather than disrupts, existing judicial workflows, made possible by coordination between judges, lawyers, court staff, and technical teams.
Concluding the event, Justice Anil K Narendran described the project as a foundation for future reforms.
“This is a decisive step toward efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric justice,” he said, announcing upcoming initiatives such as online mediation platforms and enhanced legal services monitoring.
Senior judges, government officials, bar association representatives, and legal professionals attended the event, highlighting the significance of Wayanad’s move in shaping the future of India’s judiciary.
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