India’s First Fully Paperless District Judiciary Launched

Overview: India achieved a major milestone in judicial reforms with the launch of the first fully paperless district judiciary in Kalpetta, Wayanad (Kerala). The initiative enables end-to-end digital court processes, from e-filing to digitally signed judgments. It strengthens AI-driven, transparent, cost-effective and eco-friendly justice delivery.

Riyaz

Jan-10-2026

India’s First Fully Paperless District Judiciary Launched

A milestone in judicial reform in India was achieved with the opening of the first fully paperless district judiciary in Kalpetta, Wayanad, Kerala. The programme was virtually launched by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and marked the complete transition of the district judiciary to digital operations, from electronic case filing to the issuance of verdicts. The judicial process, including filing, scrutiny, hearings, and judgement, will now be conducted digitally with the assistance of AI-enabled judicial solutions and secure digital signatures. The Kerala High Court has developed its own system to improve efficiency, reduce costs, promote access to justice, and support sustainable green jurisprudence.

First Fully Paperless District Judiciary in India: Key Details and Impact

Kalpetta in Wayanad, Kerala, became the first paperless district judiciary in India, with all the judicial proceedings being done electronically, i.e. starting with case registration all the way up to judgement.
The system relies on AI-based tools to summarise cases, engage in digital annotation, and use voice-to-text to transcribe.
Digital signatures provide legal validity, integrity and security of orders and judgements.
The initiative facilitates efficiency, transparency, low cost, and quick dispute resolution.
It promotes green jurisprudence through the removal of paperwork and the increase of fair access to justice.

Important PYQs About Judiciary

Exam	Year	Question	Answer
UPSC CSE Prelims	2024	Under which article of the Constitution has the Supreme Court of India placed the right to privacy?	Article 21
UPSC CSE Prelims	2024	A writ of Prohibition is issued by the Supreme Court or High Court to?	Prevent a lower court from exceeding its jurisdiction
SSC CGL / Bank / RRB	2023	The highest and final judicial tribunal of India is?	Supreme Court
SSC CGL / Bank / RRB	2022	Which High Court has jurisdiction over more than one state/union territory?	Guwahati High Court
SSC CGL / Bank / RRB	2021	Who decides the number of judges in the Supreme Court?	Parliament
SSC CGL / Bank / RRB	2020	Disputes between the states of India come to the Supreme Court under?	Original jurisdiction
UPSC / SSC	2019	What does 'judicial review' in India mean?	Reviewing laws/executive orders against the Constitution

Conclusion (India’s First Fully Paperless District Judiciary)

A significant move towards digital justice is the introduction of the first fully paperless district judiciary in India, in the Kalpetta, Wayanad district. It is more efficient, transparent, and fast; it consumes less paper, and it guarantees safe and AI-supported court procedures, which can become a model of sustainable, accessible, and modernised court systems in the country.