ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday introduced a comprehensive case categorisation framework as part of its ongoing efforts to modernise judicial processes and improve efficiency through digital reforms.
According to an official announcement, the apex court has approved three standardised lists for the categorisation of civil, criminal and service cases. The move is aimed at ensuring consistency at the filing stage and enabling improved, data-driven case management across the court system. The initiative is expected to facilitate litigants, enhance transparency and support more effective allocation of judicial resources.
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As part of the new framework, the Supreme Court has also approved a mandatory, standardised filing template form. The form is intended to accelerate the digitisation of court records and promote procedural efficiency by ensuring that all essential case information is captured in a uniform manner at the time of filing.
The court approved three standardised lists for categorising civil, criminal and service cases to ensure consistency in filing and support improved, data-driven case management, according to a court announcement.https://t.co/4nlNW4oWNf
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Under the new procedure, the filing template must be completed and submitted by an advocate-on-record or an advocate of the Supreme Court for every case. The information provided will be scrutinised by an institutional officer and subsequently verified by a research officer to ensure accuracy, completeness and conformity with the approved categorisation framework. Court officials said this additional layer of scrutiny would help reduce errors, improve record quality and streamline case processing.
The Supreme Court said the development of the categorisation system and the filing template was carried out through a consultative and participatory process in collaboration with the Committee of Advocates-on-Record. According to the court, the finalised template reflects feedback and professional input from members of the legal fraternity following detailed discussions and deliberations.
In parallel with these measures, the Supreme Court is continuing the digitisation of its court files. The process, which involves converting physical records into digital format, is expected to be completed by December 31. Once finalised, the digitised records are expected to improve accessibility, preserve judicial documents and support more efficient case tracking.
The court has also launched a digital portal for obtaining certified copies of court documents on a pilot basis. When fully operational, the portal will allow litigants and advocates to apply for and receive certified copies online from any location, reducing the need for physical visits to court offices.
Officials said the latest initiatives form part of a broader strategy to modernise the justice system, improve service delivery and align judicial administration with contemporary technological standards. The court expressed the view that these reforms would enhance institutional efficiency while making judicial processes more accessible and user-friendly for litigants and legal practitioners alike.
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