Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant virtually inaugurated India's first fully paperless district judiciary at Kalpetta in Wayanad district, Kerala, on January 6, 2026. This marks the first instance in India where an entire district-level judiciary — comprising all courts and associated administrative offices — has transitioned to a fully digital, end-to-end paperless system. The transition was enabled through the High Court-developed District Court Case Management System (DCMS). Under this system, all case filings are submitted online, reviewed electronically, and shared instantly with courts. Every stage of a case — from institution and pre-trial proceedings, to evidence recording, interim applications, and final adjudication — is conducted electronically, eliminating physical files entirely. The CJI described the digitisation as a step that 'democratises' access to justice, making it faster, clearer, and more accessible for ordinary litigants and MSMEs. He noted Wayanad's ecological significance within the Western Ghats, characterising the paperless model as an expression of 'green jurisprudence'. Integrated AI-based judicial assistance tools have been deployed alongside the system to support judges and court staff. The initiative aligns with Phase III of India's e-Courts Mission Mode Project, which aims to modernise judicial infrastructure. The Kalpetta model is expected to serve as a blueprint for replication across other district judiciaries in India, supporting faster disposal of cases and reducing the administrative burden on courts.