Important for GS Prelims — Indian Polity
About the eCourts Mission Mode Project
Implemented since 2007, the eCourts Mission Mode Project is a National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) initiative for Information and Communication Technology enablement of the Indian judiciary, implemented by the Department of Justice (Ministry of Law and Justice) in coordination with the Supreme Court’s eCommittee and executed through respective High Courts. It aims to make justice delivery more accessible, affordable, cost-effective, predInformation and Communication Technologyable, reliable, and transparent for litigants and other stakeholders.
Key Components & Features
- Digital and Paperless Courts: digitisation of the entire court record, including legacy and pending case records
- e-Sewa Kendras: saturation of all court complexes to universalise e-Filing and e-Payments
- Expansion of video conferencing facilities to courts, jails and hospitals
- National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG): online repository of orders, judgments and case details of DistrInformation and Communication Technology & Subordinate Courts
- Adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools — such as the Legal Research Analysis Assistant (LegRAA) and Digital Courts 2.1 — to assist judges in research, document analysis and case management
- Integration with the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) and provision for Online Dispute Resolution (ODR)
Policy & Regulatory Framework of the eCourts Mission Mode Project
- Implemented as a Central Sector Scheme since Phase III (2023–2027)
- Deployment and future use of AI-based solutions in courts is governed by the Rules of Business and the policies of the Supreme Court of India and respective High Courts
- Funds are released to High Courts by the Department of Justice on the recommendation of the eCommittee
Conclusion
The eCourts Mission Mode Project, under implementation since 2007 under the National e-Governance Plan, has progressed through three phases — the current Phase III (2023–2027) carrying an outlay of Rs. 7,210 crore — to build a unified, digital and increasingly AI-enabled technology platform for the Indian judiciary.
| This concept has been elaborately discussed in the following article AI Tools ‘LegRAA’ and ‘Digital Courts’ Rolled Out Under eCourts Project |