Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology represent the biggest challenges facing the future of judiciary, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said.
He said the judiciary must be modernised in line with times to transform justice into a domain of public trust, faith and reliance.
Asaduzzaman made these remarks on Thursday at the inauguration ceremony of E-Family Appellate Court in Dhaka.
He revealed that over 46 lakh cases are currently pending across the country.
Asaduzzaman noted that disposing of such a vast volume of litigation creates pressure on judges, adding that the government is actively working to ease this burden.
Addressing workplace discipline, he issued a warning regarding judicial officers who fail to commit full hours to court duties.
“In some places, there are allegations that certain individuals conduct court for only two to three hours. If there are any such relaxed judicial officers, we will definitely take action against them.”
Highlighting the importance of technology in modernising the judiciary, Asaduzzaman noted that artificial intelligence and digital sector are the greatest challenges of present era.
He said younger judges are particularly skilled and tech-friendly, expressing confidence that they will embrace this challenge and take forward the use of AI in the judicial process.
Regarding trial proceedings, Asaduzzaman noted that an e-bail bond system has already been introduced, with the public beginning to reap its benefits.
He explained that legal provisions already exist for taking evidence and recording court appearances digitally, with deliberations currently under way on how to bring these activities under digital systems even more effectively.
Moreover, Asaduzzaman highlighted the implementation of digital appearance systems in the operations of the International Crimes Tribunal, where officials digitally produce prison inmates on scheduled dates for court confirmation.
In conclusion, he emphasised increasing technology adoption in trial proceedings, easing the pressure on judges, and resolving the backlog of pending cases to render the judiciary more dynamic and people-friendly.
