In a bid to digitize the judicial system of Pakistan, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa recently inaugurated a new portal hosting a number of innovative features, especially the highly anticipated e-court/ video-link facility. Along with introducing the innovative e-court portal in Pakistan, the Supreme Court has also launched a new litigant-friendly website along with a state-of-the-art and Supreme Court Research Centre.
At a time when courts around the world are beginning to explore emerging digital possibilities, the new e-court portal system is expected to change the course of the legal system by making it more responsive.
During the past few years, e-court systems have gained popularity across the world, especially in the developing countries, where the latest technology and modern hardware have made things much easier for both the judges and the justice seekers.
As per the press release on its official website, the Supreme Court IT committee collaborated with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to launch its new website, which now features a number of advanced tools, along with establishing the video-link facility.
This advanced system will enable the judiciary in Pakistan to hear case proceedings for any of its four branch registries from the principal seat. It will specially make things more convenient and cost-effective for lawyers and litigants, as they won’t have to travel all the way to Islamabad for each hearing.
Moreover, the press release said the Chief Justice of Pakistan introduced these initiatives with an aim to transform the court through Information Communication Technology.
To give you an idea about how effective the new e-court portal in Pakistan is in terms of time and cost, the Supreme Court was able to hear a total of 138 cases from all 4 registries using this facility during the initial 5-week period.
Main Features of the E-Court Portal and the New Pakistan Supreme Court Website
Addressing the growing need of a digitized system, these are some of the main features that were recently introduced by the apex country.
- Video-Link: A video link facility promises timely completion of cases in a cost-effective manner, as the judges can hear the proceedings and pass their judgment from the principal seat. Similarly, justice seekers won’t have to spend money on travelling to the federal capital for such matters.
- Online Case Search: The newly introduced tool allows users to browse the complete history and status of Supreme Court cases, provided they know the case number.
- Judgment Search: This tool will be extremely helpful for litigants, legal advisers and students alike, as they will be able to study important Supreme Court decisions online. The search parameters on the website include case type, case number and name of the judge, citation, and date of announcement among others. They’ll also be able to download the results in PDF format.
- Cause List Search: Upon entering the case number, the name of the judge, the name of the lawyer, case title and registry among other parameters, people would be able to access the Supreme Court of Pakistan cause list.
- Judge Profiles: This new tool on the Supreme Court website allows users to learn more about the honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan judges.
The other features include a Museum Gallery and a Photo Gallery.
Benefits of an E-Court Portal in Pakistan
There is a reason why e-court portals are gaining popularity across the world. Not only do these systems allow speedy completion of cases but also save a lot of money. In addition to that, such portals also make the judicial system more accessible. After all, who would want to read through piles of legal documents and case files when they can learn all the important details with a few strokes of their fingertips on the keyboard, right?
To put it simply, the Supreme Court e-court portal will make it easy for the general public as well as litigants and lawyers to access case information and documents from anywhere at any time. Furthermore, it will also increase the efficiency of the courts in Pakistan as all pertinent information will be recorded and stored digitally, making it easier to manage and track it down.
It is important to note that his news comes shortly after the Supreme Court of Pakistan called for the digitization of urban land records in a bid to improve the prevalent outdated system.
Stay tuned to Zameen Blog for latest updates about laws, taxes and real estate market in Pakistan. You can also share your suggestions and send your queries on blog@zameen.com. Moreover, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter on the right to stay updated.
