India’s First Digital Court Established in Kerala: Online Resolution for Cheque Bounce Cases
The country’s first digital court has been launched in Kollam, Kerala, to handle cases related to cheque bounces. Named “24*7 OnCourt,” it was inaugurated on Friday by Supreme Court Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai.
Inauguration of Digital Court in Kollam, Kerala
India’s first digital court has been launched in Kollam, Kerala, to resolve cheque bounce-related cases. The online court was inaugurated during a ceremony held at the High Court auditorium.
Time Efficiency Expected with New Digital Court
Supreme Court Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai inaugurated the court and also discussed the acceleration of online work during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is anticipated that the establishment of this court will save time and expedite the resolution of many pending cases.
Case Hearings to Begin in September 2024
Case hearings in the digital court will commence in September 2024. This initiative will allow the entire process—from initial filing, case filing, court attendance, and hearings to the final verdict—to be conducted online.
If the digital court proves successful, there are plans to establish similar courts throughout the state.
Digital Court to Streamline Legal Processes
On integrating technology with courts, Justice Raja Vijayraghavan of the Kerala High Court stated, “The OnCourt system will simplify the entire process. It will improve scheduling within the system, allowing hearings to occur on time and enabling applicants to track their case status in real time, which will be beneficial.
The court can be connected with crucial institutions such as banks and police, facilitating smoother information exchange. Communication and tracking will become more efficient. The system will include four APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) covering case status, metadata, orders, and decisions. Advanced technology has been employed for security, and it will be utilized across 14 courts.”
