The Karnataka government recently passed a state amendment to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC) and introduced case management hearings in civil trials. Case management hearings are widely used across the world to streamline court proceedings by setting clear timelines for completing various stages of a case.

In this piece, Lakshmi Menon examines how delays, bottlenecks, and weak enforcement in civil courts drive lawyers and litigants to misuse criminal law for quicker settlements. She highlights the unpopularity of civil courts, the systemic nature of the problem and argues that real change lies not in blaming individuals but in pursuing institutional reforms to strengthen our civil courts.

In July this year, the Kerala High Court published a set of guidelines for Artificial Intelligence (AI) use by the district judiciary (“Policy Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools in District Judiciary”). As the first policy in the country directly addressing AI use in judicial processes and setting out strict safeguards, it is timely.

In this blog post, Gokul Krishnan R proposes a novel two-by-two framework for categorising case listings in Indian trial courts. The framework classifies listings based on their nature (procedural or substantive) and their effectiveness in advancing cases toward resolution. This approach provides a nuanced understanding of judicial time utilisation, moving beyond traditional definitions of "effective hearing".

In this blog post, Surya Prakash explores how India’s space sector reforms can serve as inspiration for revisiting the institutional strucuture in the judicial system. He talks about, how clear roles, private sector engagement, and specialized technology roles, like those envisaged in the eCourts Phase III Vision document, are necessary to transform the judiciary.

Surya Prakash BS talks about the lessons from Gati Shakti and the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) that can help transform India’s administration of justice by improving coordination with government agencies, transparency, and a focus on local needs.