Similar to many parts in the world which have been facing Covid-19 pandemic in the most challenging year of 2020 with the worrying figure of more than 83 million cases and the death toll of more than 1.8 million worldwide as of 31st December 2020, the administration of justice system in our country has faced various difficulties, issues and disruptions for a hearing or trial to be conducted in the physical presence of all the parties concerned since March 2020. For obvious reason, due to the current Covid-19 pandemic statistics across the world, it is now simply not prudent to conduct any hearing in the physical presence of the judges, counsels, parties and witnesses in a court room as it traditionally was unless and until Covid-19 has been successfully controlled and defeated one day.
In the interest of justice and to ensure the wheels of justice turning without any disruption due to the threats posed by Cvoid-19 pandemic, the Courts of Judicature Act 1964, Subordinate Courts Act 1948, Subordinate Courts Rules Act 1955, Rules of Court 2012, Rules of the Court of Appeal 1994 and the Rules of the Federal Court 1995 were amended in the end of 2020 to enable the courts to conduct the proceedings of any cause or matter, be it civil or criminal, or hold any inquiry through a remote communication technology (i.e a live video link, a live television link or any other electronic means of communication). The court may allow any person, witness or prisoner to attend as a witness or party in any proceedings or to give evidence through remote communication technology subject to the conditions to be fulfilled.
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