Cabinet approves eCourts Phase III for 4 years with financial outlay of Rs 7,210 crore

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday approved the third phase of eCourts Project as a central sector scheme with a financial outlay of Rs 7,210 crore to be implemented over four years. Addressing media after a Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the eCourts Mission Mode Project is the prime mover for improving access to justice using technology in line with the PM’s vision of “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas”. In line with PM Modi’s vision of “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas,” eCourts Mission Mode Project is the prime mover for improving access to justice using technology As part of the National eGovernance Plan, the eCourts Project is under implementation since 2007 for ICT enablement of the Indian Judiciary. The Phase II of the project has concluded in 2023. As per the Cabinet, the Phase III of the e-Courts Project in India is rooted in philosophy of “access and inclusion.”

#WATCH | Delhi: Union Minister Anurag Thakur says, "Two decisions were taken today... The first decision is that more 75 Lakh LPG connections would be given free of cost in the next 3 years till 2026... This is an extension of Ujjwala Yojana... The second decision is that the… pic.twitter.com/H0ShPmTt8M

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“Phase III of the e-Courts Project, beginning 2023, in India is rooted in the philosophy of ‘access and inclusion;,” the Union minister said. The third phase is aimed at ushering in a regime of maximum ease of justice by moving towards digital, online and paperless courts through digitisation of the entire court records including legacy records and by bringing in universalisation of e-filing/e-payments through saturation of all court complexes with e-Sewa Kendras, he added. It will put in place intelligent smart systems enabling data-based decision-making for judges and registries while scheduling or prioritising cases. The main objective of the Phase-III is to create a unified technology platform for the judiciary which will provide a seamless and paperless interface between the courts, the litigants and other stakeholders. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of eCourts Phase III is being implemented under the joint partnership of Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India and eCommittee, Supreme Court of India, in a decentralized manner through the respective High Courts to develop a judicial system that would promote ease of justice by making the system more accessible, affordable, reliable, predictable, and transparent for all stakeholders. Citizens who do not have access to technology can access the judicial services from eSewa Kendras, thus bridging the digital divide, the government said. Digitisation of court records also enables processes to become more environmental friendly by minimising paper-based filings and reducing the physical movement of documents. Besides, virtual participation in the court proceedings can reduce costs associated with court proceedings such as travel expenses for witnesses, judges, and other stakeholders, while payment of court fees, fines and penalties can be made from anywhere, anytime. The government further said expansion of eFiling will reduce the time and effort required to file documents, thereby, minimising human errors as documents are automatically checked and also prevent further creation of paper based records. Use of latest technologies like Al and its subsets Machine Learning (ML), Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Natural Language Processing (NLP) will provide a smoother user experience by building a “smart” ecosystem. Registries will have less data entry and minimal file scrutiny facilitating better decision-making and policy planning. It envisages smart scheduling, intelligent system that enables data-based decision making for judges and registries, allows for greater predictability and optimisation of the capacity of judges and lawyers. Expansion of virtual courts beyond the adjudication of traffic violation cases, thereby eliminating the presence of litigant or lawyer in the court. Enhanced accuracy and transparency in court proceedings. Emphasis on automated delivery of court summons by further expanding the NSTEP (National Serving and Tracking of Electronic Processes), hence drastically reducing the delays in trials. Use of emerging technologies in court processes will make them more efficient and effective, hence contributing significantly towards the reduction of pendency cases.