Union Budget Boosts Phase III of Landmark eCourts Project

The eCourts project's third phase has been allocated Rs 1,500 crore in the Union Budget 2024-25. The phase involves digitising court records, migrating to cloud technology, and establishing virtual courts. Implemented as part of the National eGovernance Plan, it aims to create a seamless, paperless judiciary system.

The law ministry's eCourts project's third phase received an allocation of Rs 1,500 crore in the Union Budget 2024-25. Aimed at upgrading the digital infrastructure of the lower judiciary, the project, which started in 2007 under the National eGovernance Plan, is set to revolutionize the legal landscape.

The Union Cabinet approved the third phase as a central sector scheme last September, with a financial outlay of Rs 7,210 crore. This phase, spanning four years, focuses on digitisation of court records, both legacy and pending cases, covering an estimated cost of Rs 2,038.40 crore to scan 3,108 crore documents.

A significant component of this phase is the migration of the legal system to cloud technology, costing Rs 1,205.20 crore for providing 25 petabytes of storage. Additionally, Rs 413.08 crore has been earmarked for establishing 1,150 virtual courts to enhance accessibility and efficiency in judicial processes. With the second phase concluding last year, this phase aims to create a unified, paperless interface between courts, litigants, and other stakeholders.