Government Approves 75 Lakh Free LPG Connections and Major E-Courts Upgrade

NEW DELHI: Union Minister Anurag Thakur has revealed that the Indian government has given the green light to two major initiatives. Firstly, they are extending the Ujjwala Yojana by providing 75 lakh free LPG connections over the next three years until 2026. Secondly, they are launching the third phase of the E-courts mission mode project, backed by an investment of Rs 7,210 crores.

The decision to offer 75 lakh free LPG connections carries potential electoral implications, given the approaching elections in key states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, and Lok Sabha elections. Notably, this comes shortly after the government reduced the price of LPG cylinders by Rs 200, a move aimed at easing the burden on citizens amid rising inflation.

The E-courts mission mode project's third phase focuses on making the judicial system more transparent and efficient. With an infusion of Rs 7,210 crores, the project aims to establish online and paperless courts across the country. This ambitious initiative includes implementing universal e-filing and e-payment systems, along with cloud storage solutions to securely store data. Additionally, 4,400 e-service centers will be set up in court complexes to facilitate this digital transformation.

These developments align with Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud's recent announcement that the first five courtrooms of the Supreme Court are now WiFi-enabled. This is part of the Supreme Court's broader effort to digitize its operations. The WiFi facility is accessible to lawyers, litigants, media personnel, and all other stakeholders who visit the premises. The move towards paperless proceedings is a significant step forward, although traditional books and papers will still have their place in the courtroom.

This digital transformation in the courts has been an ongoing process. In September of the previous year, a Constitution Bench demonstrated the Supreme Court's commitment to a paperless future. The court is also working on software to provide e-passes to advocates and litigants, further streamlining access to courtrooms.

These initiatives build on the Supreme Court's earlier steps toward digitization, including the launch of an online free case records system, an advocate appearance portal, an online RTI portal, and the implementation of an e-office module in the Registry.

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