Report No. 230

Computerization of lower courts

1.66 The government has proposed to computerize the lower courts in future. A scheme for computerization of all the 13,000 district and subordinate courts, prepared in accordance with the National Policy and Action Plan, has been approved by the government on 8 th February, 2007 with National Informatics Centre (NIC) as the implementing agency. The coverage of the project includes Information and Communication Technology (ICT) enablement of all the district and subordinate courts and upgrading of the ICT infrastructure of the Supreme Court and all the High Courts.

1.67 The first phase of the project is being implemented in all the States and Union territories at an estimated cost of Rs.442 crores. All the lower 29courts in the country including the courts in the States of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh have been taken up for computerization in the first phase.

1.68 Court records can be digitized to improve the productivity and efficiency of the courts. Computerization of the Registry of the Supreme Court has had its beneficial effects in slashing down arrears and facilitated scientific docket management.

1.69 E-filing and video-conferencing by dispensing with physical appearance saves precious time and resources and makes justice more easily accessible and a less expensive option.