India’s first 24x7 online court launched in Kollam, Kerala

India's first 24x7 online court started its operations in Kerala's Kollam district on Wednesday.

The court, operating as a pilot project named ‘24x7 ON Court,’ will deal with cheque bounce cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act,1881.

The Special Court of Judicial Magistrate of First Class in Kollam was sanctioned by the Kerala government for the purpose via a notification dated November 17, 2024.

The digital court aims to address the long-standing issue of case backlogs, reduce delays, and improve the ease of legal access for litigants.

The initiative was inaugurated by Supreme Court judge Justice BR Gavai August 16, 2024 at an event held at the Kerala High Court.

In his address, Justice Gavai had observed that the fully digital court represented a significant step in integrating technology into the judicial process by enabling litigants to file cases anytime, track their progress, and streamline case transfers and documentation.

Also speaking at the event, then Acting Chief Justice A Muhamed Mustaque had pointed out that over 10% of the pending cases in India are cheque bounce cases. Therefore, an initiative like ONCourt represents a pivotal step toward achieving a faster, more accessible justice delivery system in India, he said.

This initiative is part of Kerala’s broader efforts to digitise its judiciary and is a part of the several other initiatives that were introduced at the event such as a digital library, a model digital courtroom, an online dispute resolution system.

The 24x7 ON (Open and Networked) Court promotes a paperless judiciary, with facilities for e-filing, virtual hearings, and seamless communication with police and treasury departments. It operates on a hybrid system, allowing parties and lawyers to participate in person or online.

Through digital tools, litigants can file cases, upload documents and pay court fees via the e-Treasury system at any time, without needing to appear physically.

Summons can be issued electronically to accused individuals and relevant police stations via the iCops system, ensuring swift communication, while court fees can be paid online through the e-Treasury.

The court is equipped with advanced systems, including state-of-the-art computers and cameras, to facilitate its paperless operations.

Lawyers can file cases, track proceedings and manage schedules efficiently using the platform’s smart tools, such as assisted filing, error correction, and detailed case updates, to minimise errors and complete proceedings faster. They can also access the platform remotely, file applications at any time, and even attend hearings from anywhere.

Training sessions for lawyers are being conducted to familiarise them with the new system.

[Read Notification]