The Karnataka government has approved conducting tax court proceedings online and introducing live streaming and video conferencing facilities on a pilot basis in Bengaluru city.
The pilot project, which aims to improve transparency and reduce the need for citizens to repeatedly visit government offices, will cover all quasi-judicial revenue authorities in the district.
Through RCCMS
According to a government order issued on December 30, the initiative will be implemented through the Revenue Court Case Management System (RCCMS), which enables e-filing, online review, hearing scheduling, case tracking and issuance of digitally signed orders.
The pilot project will cover offices including Financial Commissioner, Regional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners and Tahsildars as well as officers of Survey, Settlement and Land Records and other notified offices.
The move follows concerns over the lack of clear rules for the functioning of tax courts, which in some cases has led to orders being passed out of jurisdiction. It also draws support from Supreme Court decisions that recognize live streaming of court proceedings as a measure to increase transparency, accountability and access to justice, the order said.
Live broadcast
Under the regulation, quasi-judicial hearings will normally be broadcast live. However, presiding officers may exempt proceedings or parts of hearings relating to sensitive personal information, vulnerable persons or matters of public interest if the reasons are recorded in writing.
Litigants will be able to participate in hearings via video conferencing after digital identity verification and prior uploading of documents to the RCCMS platform. All live hearings and video conferences will be digitally recorded and archived as part of the official electronic case record.
The pilot project will run for three months from operational readiness, after which the Financial Commissioner will submit an evaluation report. Based on feedback and evaluation, the system can be gradually expanded to other districts.
A monitoring committee headed by the Principal Secretary, Revenue Department will monitor the implementation. The government said the initiative is part of its broader e-governance drive and long-term systemic reforms aimed at improving access to justice, strengthening public confidence and making revenue administration more citizen-friendly and accountable.
Published – 01 Jan 2026 20:39 IST
