**Executive Summary**
This document, posted on February 5, 2026, by PIB Delhi, provides information about the implementation of video conferencing (VC) facilities in family courts across India. It outlines the legal basis for establishing family courts, the eCourts Project aimed at enhancing digital infrastructure, and the utilization of VC for court proceedings. Data on VC usage in High Courts and District Courts, as of December 31, 2025, is included.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Legal Framework:** The Family Courts Act, 1984 mandates State/UT Governments to establish family courts in areas with a population exceeding one million, with provisions for other areas as deemed necessary.
* **eCourts Project:**
* The Ministry of Law & Justice, in coordination with the Supreme Court's eCommittee, is implementing the eCourts Project.
* Phase III (2023-2027) of the project allocates ₹228.48 crore to enhance VC infrastructure in courts, jails, and hospitals.
* The utilization of VC in Family Courts is subject to judicial discretion under High Court control.
* **VC Infrastructure and Usage:**
* VC facilities are enabled in 3,240 court complexes and 1,272 jails nationwide.
* Approximately 3.93 crore case hearings have been conducted via VC (2.95 crore in District & Subordinate courts and 0.98 crore in High Courts) until December 31, 2025.
* State/UT-wise VC usage data for Family Courts is not maintained separately. Annexure-I provides aggregate data for High Courts and District Courts.
* **Model Rules and Initiatives:**
* 'Model Rules for Video Conferencing for Courts' approved by the Supreme Court have been implemented.
* The Nyaya Shruti app launched in 2024 under the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) facilitates virtual appearances and testimonies.
* 20 High Courts have notified the Nyaya Shruti Rules for effective integration with ICJS.
* **Benefits of Virtual Hearings:** Virtual hearings improve access to justice by allowing lawyers and litigants to participate remotely, saving time and resources, and benefiting underprivileged litigants and working professionals.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State/UT Governments**
* **Impact:** Required to establish family courts as per the Family Courts Act, especially in areas exceeding one million population.
* **Action Required:** Implement VC facilities in family courts and potentially establish new courts if deemed necessary.
**Stakeholder: High Courts**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the administrative control of VC usage in Family Courts, including judicial discretion.
* **Action Required:** Oversee the implementation and utilization of VC facilities in Family Courts within their jurisdiction, and comply with Supreme Court approved ‘Model Rules for Video Conferencing for Courts.’
**Stakeholder: District Courts**
* **Impact:** Need to enable VC facilities for effective case management and virtual hearings.
* **Action Required:** Implement VC facilities, adhere to Model Rules, and ensure effective usage for case hearings, as detailed in Annexure-I.
**Stakeholder: Litigants and Lawyers**
* **Impact:** Benefit from improved access to justice through virtual hearings, saving time and resources.
* **Action Required:** Adapt to the use of VC for court appearances and leverage the available facilities.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India**
* **Impact:** They are implementing the eCourts project and investing in upgrading video conferencing facilities.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement the eCourts project, monitor progress, and provide support for the implementation of VC facilities.
Key Entities Referenced
Family Courts Act, 1984: Provides for the establishment of family courts by State/UT Governments and mandates the setting up of family courts in areas exceeding one million population.
eCourts Project: Implemented by the Ministry of Law & Justice in coordination with the eCommittee, Supreme Court of India, to provide digital infrastructure in all courts including Family Courts.
High Courts: Includes all the High Courts in India, which use the video conferencing facilities, whose usage is subject to the administrative control of the respective High Courts.
Supreme Court of India: Approved the 'Model Rules for Video Conferencing for Courts' and coordinates with the Ministry of Law & Justice for the eCourts Project through its eCommittee.
Ministry of Law and Justice: The ministry responsible for implementing the eCourts Project to provide digital infrastructure for courts, including Family Courts, across the country.
Ministry of Law and Justice
VIDEO CONFERENCING FACILITY IN FAMILY
COURTS
Posted On: 05 FEB 2026 1:02PM by PIB Delhi
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.
***
Annexure- INumber 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 8441321 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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