Abstract

India’s judiciary faces an unprecedented backlog of over 5 crore cases, threatening the right to timely justice. In response, the e-Courts Mission Mode Project was launched to digitize court processes through online filing, virtual hearings, and real time case tracking. This paper examines the effectiveness of digital delivery in addressing judicial delays by analyzing Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III of the e-courts initiative. Drawing on government data, judicial statistics, expert views, and international comparisons, the study finds that while e-Courts have modernized procedures and helped prevent additional delays, they have not significantly reduced the existing backlog. Ongoing challenges such as infrastructure gaps, limited digital literacy, and procedural rigidity continue to limit impact. The paper concludes that digital reform is necessary but must be accompanied by broader changes including more judicial appointments, improved case management, and inclusive access to justice.

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