Lok Sabha Question No. 571 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: e-Courts Mission Mode Project
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Debasree Chaudhuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE (DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 571 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 4 th FEBRUARY 2022 e-Courts Mission Mode Project

## 571. MS. DEBASREE CHAUDHURI:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Ministry  has  developed  a  new  version  of  e-filing systemwith  the  successful  computerization  of  16,875  district  and subordinate  courts  in  the  country  under  e-Courts  Mission  Mode Project;
- (b)  the  manner  in  which  this  version  is  advanced  and  different  from earlier version of e-filing; and
- (c)  whether  the  Ministry  will  consider  mandatory  e-filing  of  cases, documents, etc., in view of the emphasis given on digital transactions given by the Government?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) & (b): The eCourts Mission Mode Project Phase-II is being implemented by the  Department  of  Justice  in  collaboration  with  eCommittee  of  the  Supreme Court  of  India  headed  by  a  Supreme  Court  Judge.  The  technical  team  of  eCommittee, Supreme Court of India has developed the new e-Filing version 3.0,

and  the  new  e-filing  3.0  Portal  was  inaugurated  on  9 th April  2021  and  is accessible on https://filing.ecourts.gov.in.

e-Filing version 3.0 has a new UserInterfacewhich is more user friendly andhas certain otheradditional features as mentioned below:

## 1. Services Offered:

-  Pleadings - Use of Readymade templates: Ready editable templates of various legal documents are available. User can download and use the templates for further drafting the pleadings.
-  Upload  and  e-sign  Pleadings:  The  facility  enables  user  to  upload various legal documents in PDF format.
-  Oath Recording: Video recording facility is provided to administer the oath without visiting the court.
-  File  IAs/Applications:  Facility  to  file  IAs  offers  relief  to  Advocates from filing each application separately in every court.
-  Online Vakalat: The service enables online creation and submission of vakalatnama.
-  Online Payment: The service enables user to pay Court Fee, Judicial Deposit, Fine, Penalty or Others payments online.

## 2. Exclusive Services for Advocates:

-  Add Partners:Advocates can add Partners/Bar Colleagues/Juniors.

## 3. Other Services:

-  Portfolio  Management:  The  service  enables  user  to  manage the portfolio and planner for the new as well as existing cases.
-  New Dashboard: The dashboard provides at-a-glance status of all the completed/pending activities related to cases in the portfolio.
-  Help  section  provided  in  the  new  version  provides  tutorial  videos, FAQ and user manual.
-  It provides option to litigant to send offer to the Advocates.

-  The new portal also provides the option of indexing of the documents for the Advocates

(c):  Department  of  Justice  has  requested  all  Central  &  State  Government departments including the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)to use eFiling in all commercial disputes coming up in the commercial courts. Instructions have been issued by eCommittee to all HCs to ensure that all Government litigation should  be  e-filed  by  January  2022.  A  communication  has  been  sent  by  the Department of Justice to all Central Ministries/  departments  requesting to  use eFiling in all Government litigation by January 2022. A similar communication has also been sent by the Department of Legal Affairs to all to all the Secretaries to  the  Government  of  India,  as  well  as  to  all  Law  Officers  and  Assistant SolicitorsGeneral  in  the  High  Courts  across  the  country  to  ensure  e-filing  in respect of litigationon behalf of Union of India by the Ministries/Departments concerned, includingAutonomous Bodies/Subordinate Offices/Attached Offices and  PSUs  under  theiradministrative  control,  before  the  Courts  across  India w.e.f. 1 st January, 2022.