Guwahati, May 1: Sikkim on Friday became the first state in India to achieve a fully paperless judiciary, with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant making the official announcement at a conclave in Gangtok.
Declaring the milestone, the CJI said the shift marks a fundamental change in how citizens access justice. “We have moved away from the era of paper trails. The digital highway now connects citizens directly to judicial forums,” he said, underlining how technology is reducing delays caused by distance, terrain and paperwork.
The conclave, organised by the High Court of Sikkim and the Sikkim Judicial Academy, is centred on “Technology and Judicial Education” and has brought together judges, legal experts and policymakers to discuss the digital transformation of courts.
Supreme Court judge J K Maheshwari described the development as a “remarkable moment,” noting that digitisation removes barriers such as missing files and physical delays without replacing the human role in delivering justice.
Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court A Muhamed Mustaque termed the initiative a “historic step,” emphasising that the focus is on practical improvements in citizens’ lives rather than technology for its own sake.
Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradha cautioned that digital reforms must remain inclusive. “Technology must make courts faster, fairer and more accessible without distancing marginalised communities,” he said.
Sikkim Advocate General Basava Prabhu S Patil said the move is aimed at speeding up justice delivery by eliminating delays caused by physical file movement and record management.
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) termed the development a matter of “great pride,” calling it a historic step towards a faster, transparent and technology-driven justice system. “This achievement reflects our strong commitment to innovation and good governance,” he said.
Speaking at the conclave held at Chintan Bhawan, Tamang said the integration of technology—through measures such as e-filing and digital case management—will make justice delivery more efficient, accessible and inclusive. He added that a technology-driven judiciary will be crucial to India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, helping ensure fairness, build trust and support sustainable development.
Welcoming national and international dignitaries, Tamang noted that their presence brings wider attention to Sikkim’s judicial reforms. He also highlighted that the milestone comes as the state marks 50 years of statehood, recently celebrated in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Among other speakers were Attorney General R Venkataramani, Seychelles Chief Justice Rony James Govinden, Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai and several judges and legal experts from India and abroad.
The conclave will continue on Saturday, focusing on scaling digital judicial practices across India and beyond.
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