As per a press release of the Press Information Bureau, on 16 July 2015, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the second phase of eCourts Mission Mode Project at an estimated cost of Rs.1670 crore. It envisages enhanced Information and Communication Technology enablement of courts through:
- universal computerisation,
- use of cloud computing,
- digitization of case records and
- enhanced availability of e-services through e-filing, e-payment gateways and mobile applications etc.
The eCourts project has the objective of providing necessary hardware and software applications to enable courts to deliver e-services to citizens, and to enable the judiciary to better monitor and manage the functioning of courts. Already, more than 13000 District and Subordinate courts have been computerised and case information has been linked to the respective District court websites in Phase I of the eCourts project. The cause lists, case status and judgments of these courts can be seen online by the public, including the advocates, litigants and other stakeholders, at the eCourts portal (http://www.ecourts.gov.in). Already a huge information has been put online. For example, case status information in respect of over 5 crore cases (pending and decided cases) has been put online. Likewise, more than one crore orders / judgments of various courts are available online. For example, the judgments of the Supreme Court and high courts can be accessed through http://judis.nic.in/ and, in particular, the judgments of the Supreme Court can be accessed through http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/chejudis.asp. Moreover, e-services are also available through Judicial Service Centre at the court complexes to the public, including the lawyers and litigants. The success of the eCourts project can be seen from the fact that more than 24 crore transactions have already been recorded regarding online access of court information.
As a part of the Phase II of the eCourts project, touch-screen based Kiosks and Video Conferencing facility will be installed at all Court Complexes and corresponding jails. Hand held process service devices are also planned to be provided to process servers to ensure transparent and time bound delivery of court notices and summons. This is likely to improve the delivery of court notices and summons, since at present it is very difficult to get summons served through process servers, and sometimes, it is difficult to get proof of service of notices and summons. Also, this project will use solar energy at 5 percent of the court complexes on a pilot basis.
It is well-known that e-services introduce transparent, fast and corruption-free access to the Government services. Human interface is reduced to the extent possible. The above press release highlights the fact that in line with the Digital India Programme of the Government of India, which emphasises on Citizen centric services, the eCourts project will also focus on Digital Infrastructure as a core utility to every citizen providing Governance and Services on demand eventually making the citizens digitally empowered. This is definitely a welcome project.
You can read the details of Policy and Action Plan Document for Phase II of the eCourts Project.
