Legal tech company Sama, a platform that enables government bodies, companies and individuals resolve their legal disputes online, raised an undisclosed amount from Campus Fund in a seed funding round.

Word on the street says that the Bangalore-based company said that it will use the seed funds to expand its market presence, scale the core team and accelerate product development.

The Legal tech industry provides legal services using technology and software.

Reports say that this year, the Indian judicial system had more than 47 million cases pending in various courts—the subordinate courts had a backlog of almost 41 million cases. There were some six million cases in the high courts and more than 70,000 cases in the Supreme Court.

Of these, almost 200,000 cases have been pending for more than 30 years, with a recent India Justice Report suggesting that cases in district courts remain pending for more than five years on an average.

The company believes that ODR (online dispute resolution) is the future of the justice system. It aims for a world where anyone who files a case receives due care and attention, as well as a fair and equitable outcome in a quick and cost-effective manner.

According to the company, ODR enables government bodies, enterprises and individuals to avail of technological tools that will assist them resolve their disputes in a cost-effective way. This is a major reason for ODR’s success in countries such as the US, Canada, Brazil and the UAE.

Reports say that in India, Sama is the only ODR platform working with government bodies, such as state legal services authorities in Maharashtra and Gujarat, and the police administration in Madhya Pradesh to resolve criminal compoundable matters.

On the other hand, Campus Fund is reported to have raised $ 10 million its second round of funding, with a focus of backing student entrepreneurs in its journey to build new-age solutions for India, and is backed by the likes of IIFL Wealth.

Government think tank Niti Ayog released an ODR Policy Plan for India in late 2021 in an effort to lay the foundation for the next leg of the Indian judicial system.

The think tank recommended mandatory ODR for certain categories of disputes and suggested that further digitisation and innovation in existing legal processes along with introduction of a regulatory framework for mediation and e-mediation will reduce the burden on traditional courts.

It’s believed that Sama’s solution is the need of the hour for India and across the globe. Since it is said that the solution gives them a strong advantage to be the first movers and create an alternative judicial ecosystem in the country.