DISHA
2.0: Strengthening Digital Justice Delivery in India
Why in News?
The Union Minister of
State for Law & Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal approved DISHA 2.0,
a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at strengthening India's digital justice
ecosystem by modernising courts through advanced Information and Communication
Technology (ICT). The scheme seeks to improve accessibility, transparency and
efficiency in the delivery of justice.
India's judicial system
faces persistent challenges such as case backlog, procedural delays,
inadequate digital infrastructure and unequal access to justice. DISHA 2.0
is designed to accelerate judicial reforms by creating a technology-driven and
citizen-centric justice delivery system.
The scheme builds upon the progress made
under the e-Courts Mission Mode Project and aligns with the vision of Digital
India and Ease of Justice.
Major Components
Digital Court Infrastructure
The scheme focuses on strengthening ICT
infrastructure across district and subordinate courts through:
- Modern
computer hardware
- High-speed
connectivity
- Video
conferencing facilities
- Digital
courtrooms
- Secure
cloud-based data storage
Paperless Judiciary
DISHA 2.0 promotes:
- Electronic
filing (e-Filing)
- Digital
case records
- Online
payment of court fees
- Electronic
summons and notices
- Digital
document management
This reduces paperwork, improves
efficiency and minimises delays.
Citizen-Centric Services
The scheme aims to make justice more
accessible through:
- Online
case status tracking
- Virtual
court hearings
- e-Seva
Kendras
- Mobile-friendly
judicial services
- Multilingual
digital platforms
Artificial Intelligence in Judiciary
The scheme encourages the use of AI-enabled
tools for:
- Intelligent
case search
- Automated
cause lists
- Document
translation
- Transcription
services
- Legal
research support
AI is intended to assist judicial
administration and not replace judicial decision-making.
Significance
DISHA 2.0 can contribute to:
i.
Faster
disposal of cases.
ii.
Greater
transparency in court administration.
iii.
Reduced
litigation costs.
iv.
Better
access for rural and remote litigants.
v.
Improved
judicial efficiency through digital technologies.
At the same time, issues relating to cybersecurity,
data privacy, digital divide, infrastructure gaps and capacity building
remain critical for successful implementation.
DISHA 2.0
i.
Full Form: Digital Infrastructure for Strengthening Access
to Justice (DISHA 2.0).
ii.
Nodal
Ministry: Ministry of Law &
Justice.
iii.
Objective: Modernise judicial infrastructure using digital
technologies.
e-Courts Mission Mode Project
i.
Launched
under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP).
ii.
Implemented
by the Department of Justice in coordination with the e-Committee of
the Supreme Court of India.
iii.
Objective:
·
ICT-enabled
courts
·
Paperless
functioning
·
Online
judicial services
·
Better case
management
National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG)
i.
A real-time
database of pending and disposed cases across courts.
ii.
Provides
transparency in judicial administration.
iii.
Useful for
monitoring pendency and court performance.
Virtual Courts
i.
Online
courts established to adjudicate specified categories of cases without
requiring physical presence.
ii.
Widely used
for traffic challans and petty offences.
e-Seva Kendras
i.
Facilitate
access to digital court services.
ii.
Assist
litigants in e-Filing, obtaining certified copies and checking case status.
Constitutional Linkages
i.
Article 39A – Equal justice and free legal aid.
ii.
Article 14 – Equality before law.
iii.
Article 21 – Right to life, interpreted to include speedy
justice.
iv.
Article 32
& Article 226 –
Constitutional remedies before the Supreme Court and High Courts.
This topic is highly relevant for:
i.
GS-II: Judiciary, Governance and Justice Delivery.
ii.
GS-III: Digital Governance, ICT and e-Governance.
iii.
Essay: Technology and Good Governance; Judicial Reforms.