Question : VIDEO CONFERENCING IN COURTS



(a) whether the Government proposes to inter-connect all the courts in the country through internet;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the allocation of funds during the last three years;

(c) whether all the courts are connected/proposed to be connected through video conferencing facilities in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof ; and

(e) the number of high courts in the country which have a completed information and communication technology system in place?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI SALMAN KHURSHID)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The Government is implementing a central sector scheme for computerization of the District and Subordinate Courts {e-Courts project) in the country and for upgradation of the ICT infrastructure of the Supreme Court and the High Courts, at a cost of Rs. 935 crore for the first phase. Under the Project 14249 courts will be connected through SWAN/NICNET/broadband.

Allocation of funds for the last three years on computerization is as under:

(Rs. in crore)
Name of the Scheme Allocation of funds
2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Computerization of District 26.40 115.00 120,00 297.00 and Subordinate courts

(c) & (d) : Under the E-courts Project, Video conference facility has been provided at the High Courts - Shimla, Jammu & Kashmir (Jammu and Srinagar), Gauhati and its 6 Benches. The installation of video conference facility for Rajasthan High Court (Jaipur and Jodhpur) and Calcutta High Court including Andaman is under process. Video Conferencing facility will be provided at 500 District Courts also.

(e) : The Supreme Court of India and all 21 High Courts have been made ICT enabled. They are also connected through internet.