K’taka govt launches pilot project to make courts paperless

Mysuru: In a bid to implement a paperless, citizen-centric judicial system and to enhance efficiency besides reducing costs, courts in Karnataka will soon go paperless, as Karnataka govt on Friday announced the launch of a pilot project, e-courts, to make courts go paperless.Mysuru, including Bengaluru, Kalaburagi and Dharwad, were selected for the pilot project, created infrastructure at both new and old court complexes, and staff will soon be appointed. The state govt set aside Rs 10 crores for the implementation of the project, chief minister Siddaramaiah announced in the budget on Friday.
An officer informed TOI that office infrastructure was created and the project would soon be launched. All the processes of the court proceedings will be completely paperless on the lines of the Supreme Court. Training will be provided on e-filing and its process. Welcoming the move, Mysuru Bar Association President S Lokesh told TOI that the initiative aims to modernise court functioning by digitising case records, filings, and daily proceedings, reducing dependence on physical documents and manual processes.With electronic case management, scheduling, and document tracking, courts can improve transparency, minimise delays, and enhance accountability. Litigants and lawyers are expected to benefit from faster access to case information, online services, and streamlined communication with court offices. The pilot will also support better storage and retrieval of records, lowering the risk of loss or damage to files. By integrating technology into routine judicial work, the project seeks to improve service delivery, optimise administrative efficiency, and strengthen public trust in the justice system. The Mysuru pilot will guide future expansion across Karnataka.Human-animal conflict mitigation progKarnataka govt also took steps to mitigate human-animal conflict by taking up various measures to safeguard life and property.Under the mitigation programme, an outlay of Rs 1,500 crores was reserved for the next five years, of which Rs 269 crore was reserved for this year.Bandipur Tiger Reserve director S Prabhakaran said that under the programme, various measures, such as installation of railway barricades and digging elephant-proof trenches to prevent elephants from coming out of the forest, will be taken up, besides implementing early-warning systems, community patrols, and rapid response teams to prevent conflict.Foresters say it will also include improvement of waste management to avoid attracting wildlife, restoring habitats and wildlife corridors, and educating communities on safe behaviour.An interpretation centre was proposed at Mysuru Zoo to educate the public about wildlife conservation using audio-visual learning, said Anusha P, executive director of Mysuru Zoo. The centre will be established under the PPP model. A building inside Mysuru Zoo was identified for the purpose, and applications will soon be invited from private institutions, the ED informed.The centre will feature short films, interactive displays, digital kiosks, and soundscapes that explain animal behaviour, habitats, threats, and protection measures. Exhibits will highlight endangered species, human–wildlife conflict, climate impacts, and the role of zoos in rescue, rehabilitation, and breeding programmes.