India’s First Paperless Judiciary State Context : Sikkim has been declared India’s first paperless judiciary state. Announcement made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant at a conclave in Gangtok.Marks a major step towards digital justice system and e-courts transformation in India. Focus on digital reforms such as e-filing and digital case management to improve efficiency and accessibility. Emphasises making justice delivery more inclusive and user-friendly through technology integration. Supports India’s broader vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, highlighting the role of a modern judiciary in governance and development. About High Courts High Courts are constitutional courts established under Part VI (Articles 214–231) of the Indian Constitution, with Article 214 mandating a High Court for each State. Parliament is empowered to establish a common High Court for two or more States or for a State and a Union Territory to ensure judicial efficiency. Each High Court consists of a Chief Justice and other judges as determined by the President of India, with strength varying based on workload. Judges are appointed by the President after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, the Governor of the State, and the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court (for other judges). A High Court judge must be a citizen of India and should have either at least 10 years of judicial experience in India or 10 years of practice as an advocate in a High Court. Judges hold office until the age of 62 years and can be removed only through impeachment by Parliament on grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity. The institution of High Courts in India originated in 1862 with the establishment of High Courts at Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras. At present, India has 25 High Courts, some of which exercise jurisdiction over more than one State or Union Territory, including Delhi,…
