E-Justice and access to justice: A critical study of Pakistan’s judicial digitalization

Abstract

The digitalization of the justice system is E-Justice, which is meant to make justice faster, more transparent, and more accessible. Even in Pakistan, this is not the case. Despite such positive changes as the National Judicial Automation Unit, Web-based cause lists, and filing portals, there are still structural barriers. In Pakistan, only 45.7 % of the population has access to the internet, and only a small number of the digital literate population have access to broadband, particularly the rural areas and the low-income population. This paper is a critical evaluation of the judicial digitalization with respect to access to justice based on whether the reforms are inclusive or are propagating inequality. It grounds its argument on the new findings and comparisons of countries as to why, despite potentially being more transparent and efficient, the digital justice reforms in Pakistan are going to marginalize the underprivileged people without special consideration. In that regard, e-justice must be inclusive, i.e., rights-based, i.e., infrastructure investment, data protection, and digital literacy are to be taken into consideration.