KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has directed the lower courts of the Karachi division and district judiciary of Thatta and Sujawal as well as jail authorities concerned to introduce the e-Court facility, which will enable the production of undertrial prisoners (UTPs) through a video link in court.

SHC Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi passed such directives and asked the district and sessions judges concerned and prisons authorities to put necessary arrangements in place to make appearance and attendance of UTPs through video link as provided under relevant rules.

The member of inspection team-II (MIT-II) of SHC, Sadaf Khokhar, on Jan 19, made a correspondence to district and sessions judges of Karachi South, West, Central and Malir as well as Thatta and Sujawal districts about the production of UTPs through video link.

It said that the subject matter for production of UTPs through video link from the Central Prison and Correctional Facilities Karachi and all other prisons before the courts of Karachi division as well as Thatta and Sujawal districts was placed before the chief justice.

“Upon perusal of the details, the Hon’ble Chief Justice has ordered for production of UTPs through video link as provided under Rule 670 of the Sindh Prisons & Corrections Service Rules, 2019, for which necessary arrangements be made by the courts and jail authorities concerned,” it added.

The MIT-II in its letter asked the judges concerned to ensure compliance with these directives in letter and spirit and for any assistance, if required in this regard, the information & technology department of the SHC and the jail authorities concerned may be contacted to do the needful.

The concept of e-Court facility or online judicial proceedings through video link was introduced by the Supreme Court in May 2019, as the apex court had used the technology for prompt dispensation of justice and connected its four registries at the provincial capitals with its principal seat in Islamabad.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2024