Building a more accessible, efficient, and citizen-centric justice system.
India’s judiciary is grappling with one of the world’s largest case backlogs — more than 5.5 crore pending cases across all levels of courts, including over 10 lakh matters stuck for more than two decades (as of May 2026). High Courts alone carry around 66 lakh cases, while district and subordinate courts account for nearly 4.9 crores, over 85 percent of the total. This crisis slows down access to justice, undermines the ease of doing business, and erodes public trust in the rule of law.
At the same time, technology has advanced rapidly: digital infrastructure, web-based and mobile platforms, and now artificial intelligence (AI) offer powerful tools to reimagine judicial processes and build more dynamic and capable courts. The Government of India’s eCourts project is a landmark initiative to digitise processes and modernise the judiciary. But turning this vision into reality requires more than just technology, it needs clear pathways for courts to transform themselves, adopt best practices, and build user‑centric systems.
This project is our effort to support that transformation. By studying global models, analysing India’s unique challenges, and proposing practical solutions, we aim to identify ways that eCourts can move from aspiration to implementation — creating a justice system that is faster, more transparent, and truly accessible.
India's eCourts program is ushering in a new era for the justice system. Building on the successes of Phases 1 and 2 — which established essential digital infrastructure and a nationwide Court Information System (CIS) — Phase 3 lays the groundwork for a truly transformative leap forward.
Phase 3 envisions a reimagined court system empowered by technology. This vision prioritises greater access to justice, increased efficiency, and strengthened institutional governance. However, translating this vision into reality requires a clear roadmap and collaborative effort.
The "Pathways to Digital Courts" project unites key stakeholders to co-create a practical roadmap for eCourts Phase 3 in India. Together, we’ll develop adaptable frameworks, resources, and action plans to make digital justice a reality in India. This project recognises the many different paths to success, empowering each High Court to adapt and customise solutions.
We are tackling critical areas to create a digitally-empowered justice ecosystem. From process optimization to infrastructure redesign, we're addressing the multifaceted challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
This project thrives on the expertise and dedication of individuals and organisations committed to revolutionising India's justice system. Meet the passionate changemakers — from technology innovators to legal experts to policy leaders — who are shaping the future of digital courts.
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Central Ops @blinkit | Kearney | LSR
Remember the days of filing taxes before 2009? Endless paperwork, long queues, and waiting months for acknowledgement.
In our first DAKSH video podcast, we look at the game-changing arrival of the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) - a ₹255 crore reform that completely transformed income-tax filing in India.
Our guests, Sanjai Verma, Neelesh Hundekari and Ameya Kunte, join Surya Prakash on this episode to discuss how income tax e-filing and the Central Processing Centre reforms were envisioned, implemented, and transformed the citizen experience.
The CPC faced challenges familiar to courts today: paper-heavy workflows, resistance to technology, and procurement hurdles. As e-Courts Phase 3 progresses, examining the “how” behind successful transformations like CPC is more important than ever.
Tune in to find out how bold reforms can reshape systems - and what courts can take away from CPC’s success.
We unpack the story behind one of India’s most ambitious technology-led public reforms - the Goods and Services Tax (GST) - and the making of its digital backbone, the GST Network (GSTN). GST reshaped how India collects and manages indirect taxes, merging 17 major taxes into a single unified system. But behind the scenes was a complex, high-stakes effort to design and implement the digital platform that would connect lakhs of businesses with the public tax reporting, payment, and compliance systems.
How do you build a platform of this scale while the reform itself is unfolding? What lessons does the GSTN story hold for future public technology projects, including the ongoing digitisation of India’s courts?
This episode is moderated by Surya Prakash BS, Programme Director at DAKSH, and our guests are:
