The Uttar Pradesh prosecution department has achieved a remarkable administrative and technological milestone by successfully recording 50,000 court evidences through video conferencing. This transformative initiative marks a significant shift in the criminal justice process, resulting in substantial savings of nearly Rs50 crore of public money.
Addressing Persistent Challenges in the Justice System
The groundbreaking initiative was spearheaded by Director General of Prosecution Dipesh Juneja, who assumed leadership at a critical juncture when the department faced persistent operational challenges. Government servants, particularly serving and retired police personnel, were repeatedly failing to appear in courts for evidence recording, either as investigating officers or witnesses. These frequent absences created substantial delays in trials, led to adverse court observations, and caused avoidable embarrassment to the state machinery.
Data-Driven Approach and Strategic Implementation
Recognizing the scale of this systemic challenge, Juneja initiated a comprehensive data-driven review in December 2023. This meticulous analysis identified specific districts where witness non-appearance was repeatedly flagged by courts as a significant problem. Based on these findings, he proposed the systematic implementation of video conferencing for evidence recording—an option already permitted under existing rules but never fully operationalized across the state.
Initially, the ambitious plan encountered considerable resistance from various stakeholders. District police chiefs expressed reluctance to allocate space within police lines or offices to establish dedicated video conferencing rooms. The breakthrough came following decisive intervention by the home department, which facilitated necessary approvals and resource allocation beginning May 1, 2024.
Statewide Infrastructure Development
Gradually, specialized video conferencing rooms equipped with multiple booths were established across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh. This infrastructure development created the foundation for widespread adoption of technology-enabled evidence recording throughout the state's judicial system.
Legal Framework and Regulatory Support
The initiative received significant momentum with the enactment of new criminal laws by the central government in 2024—the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). These comprehensive legal reforms provided a robust framework for technology-driven judicial processes, creating an enabling environment for digital transformation in court proceedings.
Notably, the Video Conferencing Rules of 2020, which had received approval from the Allahabad High Court but remained largely dormant, were finally operationalized and implemented systematically across Uttar Pradesh's prosecution system.
Remarkable Milestone Achieved
By January 28, 2026, the prosecution department crossed the landmark figure of 50,000 evidence recordings conducted via video conferencing. Official estimates indicate that this innovative approach has saved approximately Rs50 crore in taxpayer money through reduced travel costs, minimized court delays, and optimized resource utilization.
Alignment with Governance Vision
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has consistently emphasized the strategic use of technology for efficient governance and public welfare. The video conferencing-driven prosecution model aligns closely with this vision, demonstrating how technological innovation can enhance judicial efficiency while reducing administrative burdens and costs.
Encouraged by this remarkable success, the prosecution department has now set an ambitious new target: completing 100,000 video conferencing-based evidence recordings by August 15 of the current year.
Enhanced Accessibility and Participation
The video conferencing facility has significantly improved accessibility for various categories of witnesses. Serving doctors, retired personnel, and medically unfit witnesses—who previously faced substantial challenges attending court proceedings—can now willingly record evidence from their place of posting or residence. This enhanced accessibility has contributed to more comprehensive and timely evidence collection while respecting the practical constraints faced by essential witnesses.
This technological transformation represents a paradigm shift in how Uttar Pradesh's criminal justice system operates, combining administrative innovation with technological advancement to create a more efficient, accessible, and cost-effective judicial process.
