In a significant move towards judicial modernization, the Union Budget for 2024-25 has earmarked Rs 1,500 crore for the law ministry’s e-Courts project. This funding is part of the project’s ambitious third phase, which is focused on enhancing the digital capabilities of the lower judiciary.
The Union Cabinet had previously greenlit the third phase in September of the last year, setting a budget of Rs 7,210 crore under a central sector scheme. This phase, which extends over four years, is dedicated to the comprehensive digitization of both historical and ongoing court records. It is anticipated that approximately 3,108 crore documents will be digitized at an estimated cost of Rs 2,038.40 crore.
A significant aspect of this phase involves the transition of the judicial system to cloud-based technology. This shift requires about 25 petabytes of storage space, with projected costs around Rs 1,205.20 crore.
Moreover, the project plans to further develop and expand virtual courts, which will facilitate remote hearings via a sophisticated digital platform. The construction of 1,150 virtual courts is expected to cost Rs 413.08 crore.
Since its inception in 2007 as part of the National e-Governance Plan, the e-Courts project has gradually integrated information and communication technology into the operations of the Indian judiciary. Following the successful completion of its second phase last year, the third phase now seeks to establish a unified technology platform that promises a seamless and paperless interaction between courts, litigants, and other relevant stakeholders.
The third phase of the e-Courts project is not just about digitization but also includes the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze data and reduce case backlogs. It emphasizes the elimination of paper case files and aims to digitize all court records comprehensively.
The overall budget allocation for the Ministry of Law and Justice stands at Rs 6,788.33 crore, with Rs 5,940.95 crore designated for the departments of law and justice, Rs 525.49 crore for the Supreme Court of India, and Rs 321.89 crore for the Election Commission.
Additionally, Rs 1,000 crore is allocated to centrally sponsored schemes for the construction and maintenance of judicial infrastructure, while Rs 200 crore from the Nirbhaya Fund under the National Mission for Safety for Women is dedicated to fast-track special courts.
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In comparison, the budget allocation for electronic voting machines has seen a significant decrease from Rs 2,502.30 crore in the previous fiscal year—an election year—to Rs 34.84 crore for the current financial year. The expenditure for conducting Lok Sabha elections was Rs 1,538.86 crore in 2023-24, with Rs 1,000 crore earmarked for the current year. Total expenditure on elections in 2023-24 reached Rs 3,181.02 crore, with a reduced allocation of Rs 2,418.20 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
