Access to Justice in the Digital Era: A Comparative Study of ODR Implementation in India vis-à-vis International Best Practices

Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) is an innovative method of bringing justice in the era of the Internet that has presented extraordinary prospects to bring justice to all. The article is a research work in which the ODR structure in India is discussed comparatively with the world practices and using the international standards of ODR structure. It is found through our findings, that the ODR system in India has major shortcomings as compared to the European Union, the United States of America, and Singapore, which are slightly advanced in their systems. These divides occur in the three vital fields, namely the technology infrastructure, legal systems, and institutional structures. Even though India already achieved some worthy progress with projects such as ODR Policy Plan by NITI AAYOG and e-Courts project by the Supreme Court, there are still plenty of rough edges to smooth out. The nation is yet to overcome the digital divide, providing fair online hearings, and exerts tariff systems. These results indicate that to make ODR the game changer in the delivery of justice to which it is capable of becoming, India needs to act urgently on three levels: by passing of enabling legislations, improving the technological infrastructure, and the strengthening of institutions. These far-reaching reforms are the only way ODR can achieve actual transformations when it comes to the access and experience of justice by the Indians.