24x7 Kerala ON Court: A Scalable Model for Clearing India’s Judicial Backlog
Introduction: India’s First 24x7 Digital Court India’s justice system has long struggled with a massive judicial backlog, much of which arises from repetitive and high-volume cases. In November 2024, Kerala’s Kollam district launched the country’s first 24x7 Open and Networked (ON) Court , inaugurated by the current Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai. Designed as a digital-first judicial institution, the ON Court aims to simplify access to justice, speed up case disposal, improve communication between stakeholders, and create a model that can be replicated across India. One year later, the pilot project shows promising outcomes in efficiency, transparency, and user satisfaction. Origins of the ON Court Model Internal Judicial Brainstorming The idea originated within the Supreme Court of India and the Kerala High Court’s internal brainstorming sessions on modernising justice delivery. The goal was not merely digitisation but a complete restructuring of how courts function. The co...