India, Feb. 5 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
S. No.
High Court
High Courts
District Courts
Grand Total
1
Allahabad
249060
6673818
6922878
2
Andhra Pradesh
421307
1457401
1878708
3
Bombay
94493
310408
404901
4
Calcutta
181591
185189
366780
5
Chhattisgarh
105175
459698
564873
6
Delhi
322201
7503131
7825332
7
Gauhati - Arunachal Pradesh
3574
8779
12353
8
Gauhati - Assam
267767
547962
815729
9
Gauhati - Mizoram
4294
13268
17562
10
Gauhati - Nagaland
1477
1278
2755
11
Gujarat
420087
234667
654754
12
Himachal Pradesh
186350
202660
389010
13
Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
265337
598259
863596
14
Jharkhand
225235
745304
970539
15
Karnataka
1278460
192285
1470745
16
Kerala
280384
693555
973939
17
Madhya Pradesh
697374
1172912
1870286
18
Madras
1531620
479195
2010815
19
Manipur
55160
18811
73971
20
Meghalaya
6930
77483
84413
21
Orissa
359593
366450
726043
22
Patna
278212
3275264
3553476
23
Punjab & Haryana
653089
3734523
4387612
24
Rajasthan
254597
266506
521103
25
Sikkim
926
17890
18816
26
Telangana
1531472
201818
1733290
27
Tripura
22535
42737
65272
28
Uttarakhand
91252
51892
143144
Total
9789552
29533143
39322695
The Family Courts Act, 1984 provides for establishment of family courts by the State/UT Governments in consultation with their respective High Courts to promote conciliation and secure speedy settlement of disputes relating to marriage and family affairs and for matters connected therewith. Under Section 3(1)(a) of the Family Courts Act, it is mandatory for the State/UT Governments to set up a family court for every area in the State/UT comprising a city or a town whose population exceeds one million. In other areas of the States/UTs, the family courts may also be set up if the State/UT Governments deem it necessary.
For providing digital infrastructure in all the courts including the Family Courts across the country, the Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India is implementing eCourts Project in coordination with the eCommittee, Supreme Court of India. Under Phase III (2023- 2027) of this project, Rs. 228.48 crore have been earmarked for enhancing and upgrading the available infrastructure of video conferencing in various establishments, including courts, jail and hospitals based on size of establishment. However, the utilization of VC facilities for hearings, mediation and counselling in Family Courts, is subject of judicial discretion under the administrative control of the respective High Courts.
Video conferencing facilities have been enabled in 3,240 court complexes and 1,272 jails across the country. Total 3.93 crore (2,95,33,143 in District & Subordinate courts and 97,89,552 in High Courts) case hearings through Video Conferencing have been conducted till 31.12.2025. The numbers of cases dealt with (virtual hearing) on video conferencing in High Courts and District Courts are at Annexure-I. These numbers include the cases dealt with in the Family Courts also. However, State/UT-wise data regarding usage of video conferencing facilities in Family Courts is not maintained separately.
'Model Rules for Video Conferencing for Courts' approved by the Hon'ble Supreme Court have been implemented in all High Courts and District Courts. In addition, Nyaya Shruti app has been launched in 2024 under the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS), to facilitate virtual appearances and testimonies of accused persons, witnesses, police officials, prosecutors, scientific experts, prisoners etc. through video conferencing, saving both time and resources while expediting case resolutions. For effective implementation and integration of Nyaya Shruti with other pillars of ICJS, 20 High Courts have already notified the Nyaya Shruti Rules.
Virtual hearings serve a significant purpose in ensuring access to justice. Using video conferencing, the lawyers and litigants may appear before the court from any location, thereby, easing the burden associated with physical appearances in court proceedings and saving considerable time and money, and benefitting underprivileged litigants and working professionals. Further, the lawyers may attend hearings at multiple locations at short notice and witnesses may be produced from safe locations.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
