Discussion on e-courts project held

A regional discussion regarding the e-Courts Project held in the Chandigarh Judicial Academy here in which liberal funding by the government for e-court projects was stressed for the benefit of public.
Justice Madan B Lokur, Judge, Supreme Court of India & Incharge, e-committee Supreme Court of India presided over the
Discussion and Judges of Computer Committees from four High Courts were also present during this occasion, said an official release.
During the discussion, it was decided that since the entire e-Courts Project is set for the benefit of public, therefore, it be widely publicized informing public about availability of various services for exercising their rights.

Justice Madan B Lokur emphasized that High Court and State Government should work in corroborating manner as e-Courts Project not only makes Court work convenient for general public but also saves crores of rupees of state exchequer.
Liberal funding of e-Court Projects was stated to be in the interest of State, Judiciary and people of India, said the release.

Justice Rajesh Bindal, Chairman, Computer Committee presented various Citizens Centric Services initiated Punjab and Haryana High Court.
It was informed that all the decided cases lying in the record room of Punjab and Haryana High Court have been digitalized.
This digitalization exercise resulted in scanning of 15.90 crores pages along with disposal of 225 tones of waste papers generating revenue of Rs 22,00,000 from sale of said waste papers and more importantly freeing valuable space of 15,000 square feet.

An official spokesman of Punjab & Haryana High Court said that E-Committee, Supreme Court of India in consultation with Central Government came up with computerization project "e-Courts Phase-I" having total outlay of Rs 900 crore out of which Rs 700 crores were spent.
It was explained by Judge Incharge, e-committee informed that purpose of Phase-I was to computerize Subordinate Courts in the country with aim to bring about transparency, accountability and speedy disposal of cases by sharing case information with the litigants and advocates.
E-Courts Phase-I Project has culminated in National Judicial Data Grid whereupon, as on date, 2.30 crore pending cases and 2.70 crore decided cases are available.

The Spokesman said that expansion in judiciary resulting in recruitment of new judicial officers, resulted in setting up of new Courts required expansion of computerization programme.
E-Committee has extended e-Court programme to Phase-II with total budget outlay of 1670 crore out of which 200 crore have been released for the purchase of hardware in the year 2015-16, spokesman said.
Demonstration of e-Filing module enabling the advocates and litigants to file cases online 24x7 as per their convenience from their home by paying Court fee online was also demonstrated by member Secretary e-committee.
E-filing software is likely to be launched for general public in the month of August, 2016, spokesman said.