India’s first 24-hour online court came into being on the premises of the Kollam district in Kerala, with the adaptation of a new digital approach to ensure effective judicial processes, thereby decongesting the case backlog. The first day saw Judicial First Class Magistrate Surya Sukumaran presiding over the inaugural session of the new innovative court.
This online court operates mostly in a hybrid mode, which provides the flexibility to litigants to attend proceedings either virtually or in person if one so wishes. It deals with cheque dishonour cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. Litigants can file cases anytime because the court is accessible round the clock.
The complex further extends its reach to three first-class judicial courts and the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court located in Kollam. Paperless workflow The digital platform allows only electronic filing of cases through online forms filled on its website. This feature allows cases to be started from anywhere in the world at any time of the day.
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The highest highlight of the court has been electronic submissions, doing away with the necessity for in-court appearances. All cases will be dealt with by online hearings, arguments, and even trials. Electronic summons will be sent to police stations, and the process extended up to electronic submission and approval of bail applications and their supporting documents.
According to the senior advocate Boris Paul “This system allows filing at any point in time and one need not physically visit the court for filings or hear the case. The hybrid model supports inperson presence. A real-time calendaring system clarifies the schedules for hearings; in addition, linking with the banks, police, post offices aims to ease exchange of documents. Dashboards enable instant case status updates and actions”.
This 24×7 court is a significant step toward modernizing India’s judicial system, making legal proceedings more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly.
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