Saturday, January 29 2005 14:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Government is in the process of computerising all courts in the country, including at the lowest level, in an ambitious exercise estimated to cost more than Rs 1,000 crore with the task expected to be completed in the next five-six years, Union Law and Justice Minister H R Bhardwaj said today (Jan 29, 2005).

Bhardwaj said the Supreme Court has been fully computerised in "all ramifications" and High Courts have been given funds with Karnataka being adopted as a "model".

"Metropolitan courts have been given money to computerise within this year and all the district courts would be given money next year, and then Taluka-level courts", he told reporters in Bangalore.

The Minister said the ambitious programme is estimated to cost more than Rs 1000 crore and the entire exercise is targetted to be completed in the five-six years timeframe.

He said once the computerisation of all courts is completed, it would be controlled by an e-governance committee set in the Supreme Court.

Earlier, Bhardwaj inaugurated an international seminar on information technology law and governance, organised by the Union Internationale Des Advocats, an international association of lawyers based in Paris.