The Government of India has digitised more than 660.36 crore pages of court records and established 2,444 e-Seva Kendras across the country as part of efforts to modernise the judicial system and improve access to justice.
According to the Press Information Bureau, these initiatives are being implemented under the e-Courts Mission Mode Project to integrate advanced technologies into judicial processes, enhance transparency and simplify access to court services for citizens.
The project’s first phase, launched in 2011 with a budget of ₹935 crore, focused on establishing basic digital infrastructure in courts. During this stage, 14,249 district and subordinate courts were computerised, local area networks were installed in 13,683 courts, and case management software was deployed in 13,672 courts. Video conferencing facilities were also introduced in 493 courts and 347 prisons.
Building on this foundation, the second phase (2015–2023) was implemented with an outlay of ₹1,670 crore and expanded digital services for citizens. The number of computerised courts increased to 18,735, marking a 31.5% rise from the first phase. Video conferencing infrastructure expanded significantly, reaching 3,240 courts and 1,272 prisons. Network connectivity also improved, with 99.5% of court complexes connected through WAN networks.
During this phase, several key platforms were introduced, including the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), which serves as an online repository of case-related data. Citizen services were also strengthened through the establishment of e-Seva Kendras, allowing litigants and lawyers to access court-related services more easily.
The third phase of the project (2023–2027) has been approved with an increased budget of ₹7,210 crore, reflecting the government’s focus on transforming Indian courts into fully digital and paperless institutions. This phase includes large-scale digitisation of legacy records, expansion of video conferencing facilities across courts, prisons and hospitals, and the extension of online courts beyond traffic violations.
