Important for GS Prelims — Indian Polity
About the Project
The eCourts Mission Mode Project, under the National e-Governance Plan, is being implemented by the Department of Justice in coordination with the eCommittee, Supreme Court of India. Under Phase-III of the Project, provision exists for adoption of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to enhance judicial efficiency, with ₹53.57 crore earmarked under the Future Technological Advancements component.
AI Tools Under eCourts
- Legal Research Analysis Assistant (LegRAA): developed by the Artificial Intelligence Division of NIC and the Centre of Excellence for eCourts (CoEE), NIC, to assist judges in legal research and document analysis
- Digital Courts 2.1: developed by the CoEE, NIC, Pune, as an integrated digital case management platform with a single-window interface; features AI-enabled voice-to-text transcription and translation to assist in dictation of orders and judgments
- Both tools are currently in the pilot testing phase
Governance Framework
- The operational framework governing deployment and future use of AI-based solutions is decided as per the Rules of Business and the policies of the Supreme Court of India and respective High Courts
- The information was furnished in a written reply in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Law and Justice
Conclusion
Under the eCourts Mission Mode Project, NIC’s Centre of Excellence for eCourts has developed two AI-based tools — LegRAA and Digital Courts 2.1 — to assist judges in legal research, document analysis and case management, currently under pilot testing and governed by the Rules of Business and respective court policies.
| Important CTC from this article for UPSC eCourts Mission Mode Project National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) |