Court Computerization(eCourts Project)     

 Under National eGovernance Policy ( NeGP ) as a Mission Mode Project ( MMP ), it is proposed to implement ICT(Information & communication Technology) in Indian judiciary . The eCourts project scope is to develop, deliver, install and implement automated decision making and decision support system in all the High Courts and sub-ordinate Judicial courts.

The objectives of the project are:

· To help judicial administrations of the courts in streamlining their day-to-day activities
· To assist judicial administration in reducing the pendency of cases
· To provide transparency of information to the litigants
· To provide access to legal and judicial databases to the judges.

The project has been devised following the report submitted by the E-committee, Hon’ble Supreme Court Of India on National policy & technology in the Indian judiciary.Already under this project, ICT rooms are being constructed which consists of Computer Server Room(CSR) and Judicial Service Centeres(JSC) which are being established in different court complexesand is functional now.DG sets are already being provided for power backup in the ICT room. Judicial Officers are being provided with Laptop,printer and internet connectivity. Development of comprehensive and customized software application (CIS software) is done and is fully functional now.

The Primary benefit of implementing eCourts is self explanatory. eCourts primarily aims at paperless working environment which makes it possible for safe record keeping for infinite number of years as well as searching and maintaining accurately and efficiently saving both time and labour.The key modules in eCourts project includes Laptops and Laser Printers, training to Judges and court staffs, Internet connectivity to the Judges, Connectivity at the court complexes, Videoconferencing, site preparation, Hardware, Networking, Application Software, Technical manpower, Upgradation of the ICT Infrastructure etc. National Informatics Center ( NIC ) is the implementing agency of eCourts project.

Another aspect under eCourts project covers efficient Data management through the Application Software. Data is captured at the filing stage in computers for new cases. Data of old cases is fed in computers using dedicated manpower. Data relates to date of filing, full description of parties, law provision invoked, property no., detail of witnesses, stage of trial, next date of hearing and advocate’s name etc. Data is updated on daily basis without fail. The main benefits of proper Data management approach includes daily causelist and court diary generation, periodical statements, automatic marking of cases, year wise judge-wise casetype-wise pending case statements generation, provisions are also made to generate automated summons, warrants and notice generation all at the press of a single button.
Another area has been covered under the eCourts project is having Websites for each courts which helps litigants and lawyers to check the daily causelists, judgments, and various upto date informations regarding the district courts.

The future aspect of eCourts project includes e-filing of cases, Video-conferencing facility, online enquiries, online court fee payments etc.

For Data management, already the Application software developed by NIC called Case Information System ( CIS ) Software for District and sub-ordinate courts has been tested in many of the major pilot sites and is being fully functional now.

In North-East India, under Gauhati High Court, Kamrup District court of Assam is being considered as the pilot site under eCourts project. The Site preparation work including ICT room construction, deployment and installation of various Computer Hardware and Networking items including Touch screen Kiosk information systems, implementation of CIS software are already done in various court complexes in Kamrup district as well as in various district courts. Various objectives under eCourts project has already been attained in Kamrup district Judiciary right from computerized filing of cases till it gets disposed, generation of daily statements, notices and summon generation, generation of daily causelist, court diaries, uploading of Judgments and causelists into the website etc.. The Judges and court staffs are being trained on various modules of eCourts project. The Judges are being provided with personal laptop, laser printer and internet connectivity under the eCourts project. The website for Kamrup District Judiciary has already been hosted by the name www.kamrupjudiciary.gov.in and is being fully functional. Daily causelists, judgments and various key informations are being uploaded on daily basis.

Kiosks Information Systems are being installed in various court complexes under Kamrup district judiciary, which helps the litigants and lawyers not only to search the case status using either case number and year or petitioner/respondent’s name but also to check daily orders and judgments.

The major developments under eCourts project are already being completed in Kamrup District Judiciary and hence witnessing the work progress, on 27th September 2011, Hon’ble Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Mr. M. B. Lokur in presence of the other Hon’ble Judges of Gauhati High Court inaugurated the ICT rooms, Kiosk Information Systems and the Kamrup District Judiciary website of various court complexes under Kamrup District.

Technical manpower ( One Systems Officer and two Systems Assistants ) is already being appointed under eCourts Project by Hon'ble Gauhati High Court at Guwahati, Assam for each District Courts to monitor the Daily Computerization works viz. imparting computer training to the Judges and Court officials, CIS software management, troubleshooting all the Computer Hardware and Networking related issues, Website Updation etc..

With the growth of Information and Communication technology in India, its just a matter of time how fast the eCourts works will grow in Judiciary System in India. But with the Judges and court staffs being serious and more concerned in today’s working environments, nothing seems to be impossible and the goal of the eCourts project could be attained soon.