Kerala HC to introduce paperless courts in the courts handling bail and tax matters from August 1, 2022

Kerala High Court has decided to introduce paperless courts in the courts handling bail and tax matters from August 1, 2022, furthering the objectives of the Supreme Court e-Committee.

The notice issued today stated that the introduction of paperless courts in limited jurisdictions is only the first phase of implementing paperless courts in the HC. 

From August 1, the following benches will operate as paperless courts:

• Division Bench - Justices SV Bhatti and Basant Balaji

• Single Bench - Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas

• Single Bench - Justice Viju Abraham

• Single Bench - Justice Gopinath P

• Single Bench - Justice K Babu

HC of judicature at Hyderabad inaugurated the first ever e-Court/paperless court in 2016. In 2020, the Rajasthan High Court (Jodhpur and Jaipur Benches) dealing with bail matters started functioning in paperless mode. In the same year, e-Courts software applications like e-filing module for bail applications, and land acquisition appeals, e-filing module for District Judiciary (in two pilot locations), online certified copy application for HCs and Trial Courts, virtual court, and paperless office communication were rolled out by the Kerala High Court for the advantage of the litigants.

Kerala's Bar Association has so far been vocal in its opposition to the shift to electronic and virtual ones. Moreover, the Kerala HCAdvocates' Association, has protested against the implementation of e-filing and virtual courts on many occasions.