COVID-19: Saudi courts hold 4,000 e-hearings in a day
The e-litigation service was one among many digital services launched by the ministry
Abu Dhabi: Saudi Arabia’s e-litigation has grown exponentially with Saudi courts holding over 4,000 hearing sessions in a single day, according to latest figures issued by the Ministry of Justice.
The e-litigation service was one among many digital services launched by the ministry to ensure business continuity during the 90-plus days of government closure due to the pandemic.
The service introduced new standards to the judiciary practice, with litigants having access to courts through the Najiz.sa portal to file a case, present their documents, complete the pleading electronically, answer questions asked by the judicial panel and have the time to review and present their cases in the best possible manner, the ministry said in a statement.
The hearings are conducted online with all concerned being linked together through a live circuit, including lawyers and translators. All sessions are recorded and documented electronically, to provide safeguards to litigants.
“E-litigation provides litigants with clear and secure process that helps minimise the time and effort being spent on logistics,” said the Ministry of Justice.
“Clients can log in to Najiz.sa, explore the list of services under e-litigation, and perform the types of services they are looking for.”
According to the ministry, e-litigation on the Najiz portal has been in high demand from day one. With over 7,000 hearing sessions being held remotely since the first day of the launch, to an average of around 2,000-3,000 daily hearings being held.
“This service is here to stay and evolve, it is a stepping stone in the history of judiciary where physical location is no longer relevant to attending a trial session and delivering justice,” stressed the ministry.