Lok Sabha Question No. 1274 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-09
Subject: Virtual Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Arjunlal Meena

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1274

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 09 th  FEBRUARY, 2024

## Virtual Courts

## 1274. SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

Will the MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  working  on  any  scheme  to  set  up  virtual courts/branches for conducting virtual proceedings in the high courts of the country including Rajasthan; and
- (b) if so, the details of such virtual branches likely to be setup?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) to (b):As part of the National eGovernance Plan, the eCourts Mission Mode project is under implementation since 2007 for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) development of the Indian Judiciary based on the 'National Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of Information and Communication Technology in the Indian Judiciary'. eCourts project is being implemented under the joint partnership of Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India and e-Committee, Supreme Court of India, in a decentralized manner through respective High Courts. The enhancement of

the Video Conferencing (VC) facilities, e-filing etc are important components of the eCourts project.

Establishment of additional benches of High Courts where geographical area of the  State  is  large  and  terrain  is  difficult  has  been  a  long-standing  demand  of states. For the establishment of additional Benches of a High Court, there is a prescribed  process  that  involves  a  long  duration  of  time.  The  decision  to establish  Virtual  Benches  of  High  Courts  is  an  administrative  matter  of  the concerned High Courts and the Central Government is not directly involved in the matter. However, a letter dated 09.03.2023 was addressed to Chief Justices of  all  High  Courts  (including  Rajasthan) by then  Hon'ble Minister of Law & Justice for taking necessary action for creation of Virtual Benches through the facility of e-filing and Video Conferencing in different districts in the State so as to access the High Courts directly from the district and thus serve the purpose that  an  Additional  Bench  of  the  High  Court  in  that  region/district  would otherwise  provide.  A  reminder  letter  dated  11.10.2023  was  addressed  by Hon'ble  Minister  of  State  (Independent  Charge)  of  the  Ministry  of  Law  and Justice as well.

Taking a lead in this sphere, the High Court of Orissa (Cuttack) has established 20 Virtual Benches of High Court at District Courts facilitating advocates/party in person to appear through the Virtual High Court Centers and conduct cases before the High Court. Guidelines for the same are available on the website of High Court of Orissa.

eCourt  project  has  provided  facility  of  e-Sewa  Kendras  in  various  court complexes to serve as a one stop solution for VC, Virtual Hearing, e-filing and other facilities  of  eCourt  project  to  bridge  the  digital  divide  that  exists  in  the country.  e-filing  of  cases  from  e-Sewa  Kendras  at  different  districts  and participation  through  Virtual  Hearings  would  enable  the  common  citizens  to avail the accessibility of legal services of the High Courts. As on 31.12.2023, a

total of 880 e-Sewa Kendras has been established nationwide, underscoring the positive impact  of  this  initiative in  providing  valuable  services  to  legal practitioners  and  litigants. Under  Phase  III  of  the  Project,  for  bridging  the digital divide, provision of saturation of all court complexes comprising 4400 eSewa Kendras has been made with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 394.48 crore.

The Parliamentary Standing  Committee in its  103 rd Report  on  'Functioning  of Virtual Courts/Court Proceedings through Video Conferencing' has also emphasised the importance and utility of establishment of virtual courts.

In September 2023, the Union Cabinet has accorded approval to the Phase - III of  the  eCourts  project  with  a  budget  of  Rs.  7,210  crore.  As  per  the  Detailed Project  Report  (DPR)of  Phase  -  III,  there  is  a  provision  of  enhancing  and upgrading  the  available  infrastructure  of  video  conferencing,  an  essential requirement for conducting virtual hearing. Funds of Rs. 228.48crore has been earmarked  for  expansion  of  the  VC  facilities  with  a  physical  target of upgradation of facilities in10,200 Courts all over India.

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