LHC launches digital systems to modernise judicial, financial management

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on Tuesday inaugurated three digital systems aimed at modernising the judicial and financial management of the Punjab judiciary, marking what officials described as a historic step towards automation and transparency.

The initiative seeks to streamline judicial processes, reduce manual intervention and align the administrative framework of the provincial judiciary with international standards.

The launch ceremony was attended by Registrar Amjad Iqbal Ranjha, DG District Judiciary Malik Ali Zulqarnain Awan, DG Judicial and Case Management Javed Iqbal Bosal, the president and CEO of the National Bank of Pakistan, and the director general of the Punjab Information Technology Board.

Addressing the ceremony, Chief Justice Neelum said that for the first time in the 150-year history of the judiciary, the traditional financial system was being replaced with modern technology. “The core objective of these systems is to minimise human intervention, eliminate the risk of fraud and restore public confidence in the judicial process,” she said.

She added that digitising financial and administrative functions would help create an efficient and secure framework for the courts. The chief justice also appreciated the Lahore High Court’s IT wing for developing the new systems in collaboration with relevant institutions.

The first system, the Civil Courts Accounts Management System, introduces a major change in the handling of judicial fees, fines and payments. To prevent forgery and the use of fake receipts, the system has been directly linked with the Case Management System and the National Bank of Pakistan. Challan forms (32-A) will now be generated automatically and assigned a unique PSID, ensuring that every payment can be verified.

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Under the new system, judicial officers have been given defined access to issue payment orders online. Officials said future plans include linking the platform with the Accountant General’s Office to further improve financial verification and oversight.

The second platform, the Judicial Deposits and Securities Management System, has been launched to manage funds and securities deposited in banks under court orders. It allows Lahore High Court branches to maintain detailed records of both individual and collective judicial deposits.

By automating these records, the Banking and Funds Management Wing will be able to monitor accounts more accurately, reducing the risk of human error and ensuring that court financial data remains transparent and up to date.

The judiciary has also introduced an Inventory Management System to digitise the tracking of judicial assets and stored supplies. The software monitors the full lifecycle of government property, from receipt to distribution across offices, and includes automated alerts to warn officials before items expire or risk going to waste.

Officials said the system will help maintain records of both functional and obsolete stock, ensure compliance with standard operating procedures and prevent the loss or misuse of public resources, strengthening accountability within the judiciary.