E-Courts In India Needed

Technology has great potential to streamline the judicial system of India. Electronic courts (e-courts) are the most apt example of the same. Clearly e-delivery of justice in India is urgently needed. However, there are many reasons for the failure of e-delivery of justice in India in general and e-courts in India in particular.

Even the techno legal expertise needed to successfully implement e-court project of India is missing. We have a single techno legal e-courts training and consultancy centre in India managed by Perry4Law and Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB).

In the past some steps have been taken in this regard but they are grossly inadequate and clearly misguided. E-filing of cases and documents is still missing and all that we have are computerised courts. Till July 2012 we are still waiting for the establishment of first e-court of India.

The latest development in this regard is the passing of the Court Fee Amendment Act in May 2012 by the Delhi legislature. The same has also received Presidential assent and a gazette notification may be issued in this regard very soon. Once the Act is notified, payment of court fee can be done electronically and online filing of cases may be possible. But for the time being, e-courts in India are missing.

Another cause of concern regarding successful establishment of e-courts in India is the poor cyber security. Cyber security in India is not up to the mark and cyber security of courts and e-courts is not even contemplated. Insecure e-courts can create more problems than solutions opine Praveen Dalal, managing partner of Perry4Law and a Supreme Court Lawyer. Successful implementation of e-courts project in India requires adherence to multiple techno legal aspects that are presently missing, says Dalal.

Let us see how Indian government in general and courts in particular would react to this position that is defeating all the initiatives in this regard.