Supreme Court of Bangladesh has commenced paper-free judicial proceedings, which will be gradually implemented throughout the year.
Justice Ahmed Sohel of the High Court Division inaugurated this initiative in a single-company bench on Sunday (5 January).
Previously, on 31 December, the Supreme Court issued a press release expressing Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed's anticipation of commencing paper-free judicial work in the new year.
Justice Sohel described this development as the beginning of a new era, with legal practitioners recognising it as a significant step in integrating information technology into the judicial process.
Appellate Division Public Relations Officer Mohammad Shafiqul Islam stated that various plans have been undertaken as part of Chief Justice Ahmed's roadmap, announced on 21 September 2024, to make judicial services more accessible to the public.
One of these plans includes the complete digitalisation of court proceedings.
He added that an online platform, developed under the supervision and innovation of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, is now available for submitting all documents digitally.
The chief justice plans to expand the paper-free process to other benches of the Supreme Court within 2025, with hopes for a long-term implementation in district courts nationwide.
On the first day of this initiative, two case applications were filed online, as Justice Sohel informed the legal practitioners from the bench.
One of the lawyers, Mohammad Jamil Khan, submitted a mansion slip online and prepared additional applications for submission.
During the hearing, Justice Sohel encouraged lawyers to file cases online and proceeded with the regular hearing of cases on the list.
He also directed them to a tutorial video on the Supreme Court's website, explaining the filing process and assuring them that they would become accustomed to it over time.
Recalling the initial challenges of online hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic, Justice Sohel noted that lawyers eventually adapted to the new system.
Mohammad Jamil Khan outlined the step-by-step process for online case filing, starting with obtaining a password from the relevant section, creating an ID, converting the application to PDF, and uploading it.
He explained that printed copies would still need to be submitted for affidavits, followed by hearings in the respective courts, with the possibility of transitioning to online hearings in the future.
Senior Advocate Barrister Mohammad Ruhul Quddus Kajal remarked that the digital platform for paper-free judicial proceedings marks the start of a new chapter.
He lauded Chief Justice Ahmed's unprecedented roadmap, aimed at modernising the judiciary, reducing public harassment, and ensuring judicial impartiality.
This initiative has already sparked new hopes among the legal community and the public.
Chief Justice Ahmed, who took oath on 11 August, declared this reform roadmap as a means to restore public confidence in the judiciary through transparency and institutional excellence.
