Status of the e-Courts’ Project – Completed & On-going

e-Courts project is in its 2nd phase. The various schemes included in the project has been effectively implemented. All the Courts in Kerala have been brought under its net.

Status of procurement of components for which funds have been released:

The eCommittee allotted a total amount of ₹ 37,60,74,300/- (Rupees Thirty Seven Crore Sixty Lakh Seventy Four Thousand and Three Hundred Only), under eCourts Project Phase II for 46 activities. As on date ₹31,96,45,181/- (Rupees Thirty One Crore Ninety Six Lakh Thirty Three Thousand Three Hundred and Eighty One Only), has been spent towards the expense of 35 completed activities and 6 ongoing activities namely (VC Facility between Courts & Jails, Solar Project, eSewa Kendra & eSewa help desk Counters at Bar Association, Creating help desk Counters for eFiling, VC equipments for Court rooms, & Manpower)

VC facility between Courts and Jails: The Prisons Department, Government of Kerala has completed the installation of VC facility connecting Courts and Jails have been installed in 488 locations(402 courts & 86 studios in 52 Jails) through out the State for the remand extension of prisoners. The DoJ has allotted an amount of ₹3.15 crores for installation of VC facility between Courts and Jails out of the said amount an amount of ₹3.1325 crores has been transferred to the Prisons Dept. The remaining amount of ₹1.75 lakhs allotted for implementation of VC at jail in Lakshadweep. Steps are being taken to implement the same. UC issued for payment of ₹3,13,25,000/-.

Solar Power Project: TDoJ has allotted a total amount of ₹1,20,00,000/- for implementing grid connected solar project of total 150KWp in 8 subordinate courts under eCourts project Phase-II. Accordingly, PO was issued to M/s Radiant Solar Pvt. Ltd. For a total amount of ₹93,25,000/-.

Site survey and engineering design completed at all the 8 locations. Solar project commissioned at Thodupuzha, Thalassery, Kalpetta, Kottarakkara and Kasargode . Supply and delivery of items have been completed in all Court Complexes except Court Complex, Mannarkkad . As per the technical report received from ANERT, proposed solar power plant at Court Complex, Alathur has been shifted to Court Complex, Mannarkkad. Work is under progress at the remaining Court Complexes. A total payment of ₹57,97,615/- has been made. UC for a total amount of ₹50,26,666/- has been furnished. UC for the remaining amount will be issued soon.
1. Vanchiyoor/ TVPM (Capacity: 30KWp) : ANERT has recommended to provide Reverse Power Relay ( RPR ) system to prevent solar power going to diesel generator. Estimate to be submitted by Radiant Solar Pvt. Ltd. for the RPR system. Request for registration fee not received from District Court. Installation completed in Thiruvananthapuram
2. Mannarkkad, Palakkad (Capacity: 20KWp): Feasibility Certificate has not been received from KSEB.
3. Kozhikode (Capacity: 10KWp):. Supply of materials completed by the firm. Installation is under way.
Time limit for the completion of work has been extended for a further period of six months from 18.01.2022.

Manpower: eCommittee, Supreme Court directed to deploy a technical Manpower team of 10 personnel to support CPC for each High Court. Technical Personnel in the Manpower Team was appointed in High Court during the month of March 2018 (8-03-2018). The technical team was appointed for a period of one year which was extended up to 3 years. The tenure of the team was extended after the completion of first and second year as per orders of the Hon’ble Chief Justice, on obtaining concurrence from the eCommittee in this regard.
An amount of ₹1,22,14,182 /- has been paid as salary till March 2022. Partial UC furnished till February 2022. UC for the remaining amount will be furnished soon.
The amount of ₹40,06,000/-, received from the eCommittee for the deployment of Technical manpower to assist CPC for one year, has been fully utilized and at present the salary is being met from the savings accrued under various Budget Heads as permitted by the eCommittee. eCommittee has accorded sanction for the extension of technical manpower for the 5th year, meeting expenses from the re appropriated amount .

Smart phones: eCommittee has proposed to provide smart phones to all the Process servers and Bailiffs for implementing the NSTEP, service that helps to track the movement and delivery of Process. More than 2400 Process Servers and Amins were reported to be currently in service in the Subordinate Courts and it has been proposed to provide Smart Phones to each of them. The estimated amount for one Smart phone is given as ₹12,000/- and hence the total amount for purchase may exceed ₹2,50,00,000/-(approx.).
Earlier an amount of ₹1 Crore was allotted by the eCommittee for the procurement of smart phones for implementing NSTEP. Now eCommittee has allotted an additional amount of ₹1.5 Crore for the purchase of Smart phones for the same. Thus a total amount of ₹2.5 Crore has been allotted by the eCommittee for the same.
Now, High Court has issued directions to all the Principal District Judges to implement work flow based module integrated with NSTEP, keeping the existing procedure regarding production of processes, payment of process fees, service of process as per the provisions of law and without capturing the photograph.
The Rule Committee and Full Court has recommended amendment to the CPC for the implementation of NSTEP. The proposal is pending before the Government.

e-Sewa Kendra: eSewa Kendra started functioning at High Court and District Court Complex, Ernakulam with effect from 14.5.2020. As of now, eSewa Kendra has been established at 118 court complexes in the State utilizing the existing infrastructure including High Court.
The eCommittee, Supreme Court allocated an amount of ₹10,68,000 for the eSewa Kendras at 2 locations namely High Court of Kerala and at District Court Complex, Ernakulam. An amount of ₹6,84,358/- has been paid as salary for 2 PLVs upto the month of March 2022. Partial UC for ₹5,94,358 furnished as salary upto December 2021. eCommittee, has accorded sanction for the extension of PLVs appointed at High Court & at District Court Complex, Ernakulam for 1 more year by re appropriating the saved funds. Sanction has been accorded to provide hardware for eSewa Kendras as well as for eSewa Help Desk Counters at the Bar Associations using re appropriated amount by the eCommittee. Laptops and scanners were installed in 118 eSewa Kendras established across the State. Payment effected and UC will be furnished soon.

eSewa help desk counters at Bar Associations: eCommittee has accorded sanction for the re appropriation of ₹50,16,000/- for creating 44 nos of help desk counters for eSewa at Bar Associations. Sanction has been accorded to provide hardware for eSewa Kendras as well as for eSewa Help Desk Counters at the Bar Associations using re appropriated amount by the eCommittee. Laptops and scanners were installed in 44 eSewa help desk counters at Bar Associations. Payment effected and UC will be furnished soon.

Creating Help Desk counters for e-Filing in Court Complexes: The eCommittee has informed that the establishment of help desk counters for e-Filing would be useful for acanvasdvocates and litigants. Computers, scanners, and web cams will facilitate the effective functioning of assistance counters. The approximate cost per counter is ₹70,000/-.The eCommittee has allocated an amount of ₹28,70,000/- for the procurement of 41 nos of Help Desk counters for efiling in the State.
Procurement of hardware for the implementation of 34 nos of Help Desk Counters for efiling in the High Court as well as in the Subordinate Court Complexes in the State were completed . Payment effected and UC will be furnished soon.

VC equipment for Court Rooms: The eCommittee has informed that one VC equipment for a court complex is not sufficient. Court rooms have been provided with computer systems. If each court is provided with a Pan Tilt Zoom camera and a mic-cum-speaker they can be used for video conferencing. The approximate cost for the USB PTZ camera and an external USB mic- cum-speaker would be ₹20,000/-. The eCommittee has allocated an amount of ₹69,80,000/- for the procurement of 349 nos of VC equipments for the Subordinate Courts in the State.
Purchase order issued and payment effected towards the supply and installation of 151 number of USB PTZ camera and USB mike cum speaker.

Document Visualizer (DV) for VC in Court Complexes: The eCommittee has informed that each court complex is entitled to one DV as per the Policy and Action Plan document of Phase II. The estimated cost is ₹43,900/- each. The eCommittee has allocated an amount of ₹18,00,000/- for the procurement of 41 nos of Document Visualizer in the State.
For High Court – 4 nos
For Subordinate Courts – 37 nos.( 1 equipment for court complex having 6-10 courts and 1+1 additional equipment for every 10 court rooms for court complex having more than 10 courts ). The eCommittee has been requested to provide specification for Document Visualizer. Specification not received for the same from the eCommittee so far. The Technical Committee, High Court has resolved to furnish the specification of Document Visualiser to the eCommittee for approval. Steps for publishing etender for the purchase of the same will be initiated after getting the approval from the eCommittee. Awaiting reply from eCommittee.

Scanners for High Court and District & Taluk Court Complexes: 16 flatbed scanners (14 nos for Court Complexes and 2 for eSks) were supplied to the Court Complexes in the State. Payment effected and UC will be furnished soon.
But the specification for the High Speed Scanners has not been received from eCommittee. Request has been send for the same.
The Technical Committee, High Court has resolved to furnish the specification of High Speed Scanner to the eCommittee for approval. Steps for publishing etender for the purchase of the same will be initiated after getting the approval from the eCommittee. Awaiting reply from eCommittee.

Digital Signature: Specification received. Demo of the DSC was conducted by M/s KELTRON at District Court, Ernakulam . Technical report received and file is under process.

Mobile Video Conferencing Facility with mobile eSewa Kendra: 2 Nos (in the districts of Idukki and Wayanad)
eCommittee has accorded sanction for the re appropriation of ₹50,00,000/- for implementing the mobile video conferencing facility with mobile eSewa Kendra in districts of Idukki and Wayanad (₹25 lakhs each) by providing tempo traveller and other necessary items/equipments. Steps are being taken.

Virtual Court: The Virtual Court was inaugurated on 15.06.2020 and started functioning in Ernakulam district . It is presently dealing with the traffic offences under the Motor Vehicle Act 1988. The Court of the Judicial Magistrate of First Class-III, Ernakulam is the Virtual Court with territorial Jurisdiction over the whole State of Kerala. The Span of Virtual Court will be extended to petty cases as per Section 206 of CrPC 1973 and other Compundable offences, subject to amendment in CrPC. At present the Motor Vehicle department and the Police department are using Virtual Court throughout the State.

eFiling & ePayments: E-Filing has been launched in the State at two Subordinate Courts namely Munsiff – Magistrate Court, Kolenchery and the Rent Control Court, Ernakulam with effect from 16.06.2020. eFiling in all the Commercial Courts started in the State of Kerala from 20.01.2021.As per G.O(Rt) No.1350/2021/Home dtd 07.05.2021, State Government has approved the Electronic Filing Rules for Courts (Kerala) 2021. As per the directions of the Administrative Committee , High Court, efiling has been implemented in the District Judiciary from 01.01.2022 onwards. ePayment is not implemented in the State since the proposal to amend Court Fees Act is pending with the State Government.