The Union Cabinet granted approval for Phase III of the eCourts Project, designating it as a central sector scheme with a financial allocation of Rs 72.1 billion.

According to the PTI news agency report, after a Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Anurag Thakur, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, emphasised that the eCourts mission mode project stands as the key catalyst in enhancing access to justice through technological means, aligning with the Prime Minister's vision of "Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, and Sabka Vishwas."

Since its inception in 2007 as part of the National eGovernance Plan, the eCourts project has been progressively implemented to empower the Indian Judiciary with ICT capabilities. Phase II of this endeavour is set to conclude in 2023.

"The third phase's objective is to transition towards digital, online, and paperless courts by comprehensively digitising the entire court record system, including historical records, and by facilitating widespread adoption of e-filing and e-payment systems through the establishment of e-Sewa Kendras in all court complexes," as stated in the press release.

This forthcoming phase aims to institute intelligent and efficient systems for judges and court registries. The principal aim of Phase III is to establish a unified technology platform for the judiciary, facilitating a seamless and paperless interaction among the courts, litigants, and various stakeholders.

The project's digitisation of court records not only promotes environmental sustainability by reducing reliance on paper filings but also enhances the accuracy and transparency of court proceedings. Moreover, it leverages technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning (ML), optical character recognition (OCR), and natural language processing (NLP), to construct a "smart" ecosystem for a more user-friendly experience. Virtual participation in court proceedings has the potential to reduce expenses associated with legal processes, including travel costs for witnesses, judges, and other parties involved.

Additionally, the project places a strong emphasis on automating the delivery of court summons through an expanded National Serving and Tracking of Electronic Processes (NSTEP) system.