LAHORE: Speakers at a conference said on Monday the use of information technology (IT) tools in the judicial system was compulsory and it was the only way to provide justice to the people under the prevailing situation of Covid-19 pandemic.

The virtual conference was organised by the Punjab University and the Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy (ILRA) on Monday.

Punjab University Law College’s Prof Dr Aman Ullah Malik, Supreme Court Bar Association Senior Vice President Ghulam Murtaza Chaudhry, Punjab Judicial Academy trainer Zafar Iqbal Kalanauri, ILRA Chairman Syed Shahbaz Bukhari, Lahore High Court Bar Association Vice President Barrister Saeed Nagra and Lahore Bar Association General Secretary Rehan Khan participated in the conference.

Prof Malik said since the prevailing situation regarding vaccine and treatment of Covid-19 was uncertain, it was necessary to benefit from IT facilities to deliver justice to the common man under prevailing circumstances.

He said the University Law College also began online classes to save one precious year of our students.

Mr Murtaza said that presentation of arguments through a video link was possible and such practice also existed in Supreme Court in some selected cases.

He said that at international level, courts were utilizing IT facilities to hear cases online and we could benefit from already shared experiences of the institutions.

Mr Nagra said that some amendments would have to be made in the rules for launching a comprehensive online judicial system.

He said that an online judicial system could be introduced and implemented by taking all stake-holders into confidence for its smooth functioning and delivery.

Mr Bukhari praised the Lahore High Court for taking initiatives in time to streamline the judicial system in order to provide justice to the people.

He also praised the LHC for launching the e-filing system of the cases at high court level and said that arguments on cases were being made through video link in various courts in many countries.

He said that there was a need to give training to the stakeholders concerned and utilize appropriate IT equipment.

He said that these small efforts could pave the way to provide justice to the people as well as reduce financial problems being faced by 150,000 lawyers and their para-legal staff.

Mr Kalanauri said that all the resources to put the judicial system online were available and an online judicial system would also prove an environment friendly initiative.

Meanwhile, Punjab University Registration Branch has extended the date of submission of registration forms for MA/MSc and Bachelor of Commerce annual examinations 2020 with double fee till May 10.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2020