Arab News, Wednesday, Mar 24, 2021 | Shaaban 10, 1442
Saudi Justice Ministry: 1.2 million court hearings held online in a year
Saudi Arabia:
Since the launch of e-litigation service in March last year, courts in Saudi
Arabia have held 1.2 million video sessions, said a Justice Ministry statement
on Tuesday.
According to the ministry, these remote courts issued 438,000 verdicts during
the same period.
The new service, brought in under the direction of Minister of Justice Dr. Walid
Al-Samaani, is part of the digital transformation process taking place in the
ministry.
E-services include the exchange of pleadings, submission of documents, remote
hearings and proceedings, the pronouncing of verdicts, the issuing of copies of
judgments, and challenging them before the higher court.
Electronic hearings allow parties to plead in writing and exchange and submit
pleadings. They also give the judiciary the chance to ask questions, to which
parties respond in writing while attaching relevant documentation.
Video conferencing enables the judiciary to listen to the parties, complete
litigation procedures and pronounce judgments.