The Ministry of Law and Justice, as part of the National eGovernance Plan, is executing Phase‑III of the eCourts Mission Mode Project. The focus is on ICT enablement of courts and a budget of Rs 53.57 crore earmarked for “Future Technological Advancements”.
Key Developments
- The Supreme Court constituted an AI Committee to explore AI applications in the judicial domain.
- In collaboration with IIT Madras, the Court is testing AI/ML prototypes for document defect correction, metadata extraction, and integration with the ICMIS case‑management software.
- Two AI‑driven tools have been developed:
- LegRAA for legal research and document analysis.
- Digital Courts 2.1, offering a paper‑less workflow, voice‑to‑text (ASR‑SHRUTI) and translation (PANINI) capabilities.
- Data privacy and ethical safeguards are addressed by using only the Court’s own judgments and orders, and a sub‑committee of six High Court judges with technical experts is tasked with recommending secure connectivity, authentication, and infrastructure upgrades.
- Current deployments are limited to controlled pilots, with operational frameworks to be governed by the rules of business and policies of the respective High Courts.
Important Facts
- Budget for technological upgrades: Rs 53.57 crore.
- AI tools are being integrated with the existing ICMIS system.
- Voice‑to‑text functionality is provided by ASR‑SHRUTI; translation by PANINI.
- Sub‑Committee includes six High Court judges and technical experts for data security.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the digitisation of the judiciary is crucial for GS‑2 (Polity & Governance). The initiative illustrates how technology (AI, ICT) is being leveraged to improve public service delivery, a key theme in GS‑3 (Economy & Development). The emphasis on data privacy, ethical safeguards, and pilot‑phase implementation reflects the governance challenges of integrating emerging technologies, relevant for GS‑4 (Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude). Aspirants should note the inter‑ministerial coordination (Law & Justice, Parliamentary Affairs) and the role of autonomous bodies (AI Committee, eCommittee) in policy formulation.
Way Forward
- Scale up successful pilots to all High Courts and District Courts after robust evaluation.
- Formulate a comprehensive legal framework for AI use in judiciary, covering data protection, accountability, and bias mitigation.
- Strengthen digital infrastructure and connectivity, especially in remote courts, to ensure uniform access.
- Encourage capacity‑building programmes for judges and court staff on AI tools and digital literacy.
- Monitor impact on case disposal rates, cost‑effectiveness, and public trust through periodic audits.
These steps will help India move towards a more efficient, transparent, and technology‑enabled justice delivery system, aligning with the broader objectives of the National eGovernance Plan.