Virtual Courts is a concept, aimed at eliminating the presence of litigant or lawyer in the court and for adjudication of cases on a virtual platform. The concept has been evolved in order to efficiently utilize court resources and to provide litigants with an effective avenue to settle petty disputes. Virtual Court can be administered by a Judge over a virtual electronic platform whose jurisdiction may extend to the entire State and function 24X7. Currently, the virtual courts are handling cases pertaining to only traffic challan cases, which have not only reduced the costs of litigation but has also simplified the procedure for redressal of traffic challan cases. Over 3.26 crore cases (3,26,14,617) have been handled by 22 virtual courts and in more than 39 lakhs (39,16,405) cases, online fine of more than Rs. 419.89 crore have been realized till 30.06.2023. The detail breakup of cases dealt through virtual courts across India is at Annexure- I. As on 30.06.2023, there are 22 such courts in 18 States / UTs viz. Delhi (2), Haryana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala (2), Maharashtra (2), Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir (2), Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, West Bengal and Rajasthan.
The Department under its Scheme for Action Research and Studies on Judicial Reforms periodically invites research proposals from eligible institutions on various topics in the field of justice delivery and judicial reforms. Recently proposals have been invited on “Exploring the scope of expansion of Virtual Courts under the Indian Justice Delivery System”. All proposals under Action Research are evaluated as per the stipulated guidelines and are subject to approval of a Project Sanctioning Committee formulated for the said Scheme.
The establishment of Virtual Courts is an administrative matter which falls strictly within the purview and domain of the judiciary and the respective State Governments, and the Central Government has no direct role to play in the matter.
Source: PIB, India
