[BREAKING] Kerala High Court introduces paperless courts for hearing bail, tax matters with effect from August 1

In a significant move furthering the objectives set forth by the Supreme Court e-Committee, the Kerala High Court has decided to introduce paperless courts in the courts considering bail and tax matters, from August 1, 2022..A notice to that effect was issued today which stated that the introduction of paperless courts in limited jurisdictions is only the first phase of the implementation of paperless courts in the High Court. "It has been decided to introduce paperless courts in Bail Jurisdiction (Single Bench) and tax related and other subjects (Single Bench) and the Division Bench considering appeals from the said single bench for tax related and other subjects, as part of the first phase of the implementation of paperless courts in the High Court", the notice stated. .As per the present roster, the following benches will commence functioning as paperless courts from August 1:Division Bench - Justices SV Bhatti and Basant BalajiSingle Bench - Justice Gopinath PSingle Bench - Justice Viju AbrahamSingle Bench - Justice Bechu Kurian ThomasSingle Bench - Justice K Babu.In 2016, the first ever e-Court/ paperless court was inaugurated in the then High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad.In 2020, the courts dealing with bail matters at the Rajasthan High Court (Jodhpur and Jaipur Benches) started functioning in paperless mode. The High Court also started the process of scanning and digitising fresh filed and pending cases before it.In the same year, e-Courts software applications like, e-filing module for bail applications, motor accidents claims appeals and land acquisition appeals, e-filing module for District Judiciary (in two pilot location), online certified copy application for High Court and Trial Courts (in pilot location), virtual court, and paperless office communication were rolled out by the Kerala High Court for the benefit of the litigants and advocates..The Kerala Bar has so far been vocal in their opposition to the shift from the pre-pandemic traditional courts to the increasingly electronic and virtual systems. The Kerala High Court Advocates' Association, has on many occasions, protested against the implementation of e-filing Rules and virtual courts..[Read Notice]