New system sparks delays, anger in courts

Internet outages, power failures disrupt judicial processes across district courts

RAWALPINDI:

A new biometric verification system was launched in the subordinate district judiciary of Rawalpindi for filing all types of cases, including divorce cases, powers of attorney, bail applications, and submission of replies and comments.

However, on its very first day, the system completely paralysed the process of filing new cases and applications in courts.

Frequent internet slowdowns, complete outages and repeated power failures shook the foundations of the new system on day one, triggering anger among litigants, women clients, and lawyers.

Disputes erupted among litigants at biometric verification points, while biometric stalls and centres remained overcrowded from morning till evening. Women were particularly distressed while trying to get biometric verification.

At several centres, staff allegedly charged heavy illegal fees for verification. The District Bar Association also demanded reforms in the system.

Lawyers and litigants faced severe difficulties at the Rawalpindi district courts and all tehsil courts on the first day of implementation.

NADRA offices and biometric facilitation centres witnessed massive crowds of lawyers and litigants.

Due to long queues and internet issues, a large number of women returned home without completing biometric verification. Internet disruptions and power outages further crippled the system.

Under the new system, biometric verification of applicants has been made mandatory for filing family cases, bail applications, new cases, replies in pending cases, and submission of powers of attorney. Due to the absence of women litigants and the failure of biometric verification, dozens of cases could not be filed, while major bail and miscellaneous applications also remained pending.

Lawyers Wahid Naz Janjua and Sibtain Bukhari said they were not opposed to the new system but criticised the abrupt shutdown of the old system.

They suggested that both systems should run simultaneously for two to three weeks. They pointed out that power outages from 9am to 1pm on several days leave litigants helpless.

They demanded open biometric verification, allowing litigants to verify from any centre, installation of generators at court facilitation centres, and alternative internet arrangements to avoid inconvenience, especially for women.

District Bar Association President Tariq Mahmood Sajid Awan demanded the installation of a biometric verification facility at the District Bar Office, where generators and battery backups are available, to prevent disruption of court processes. Judicial sources told The Express Tribune that difficulties were expected at the start, but the system would stabilise within a week. They said the new transparent system would help eliminate fake cases.