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.

 

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Annexure- I

Number of cases dealt with (virtual hearings) on video conferencing in High Courts and District Courts:

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

 

This information was given by MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Samrat/

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