Kuwait Approves E-Justice Law to Digitize Penal Order System
Kuwait's Cabinet has approved a significant legislative amendment to modernize the Penal Order System, marking a substantial stride towards e-justice implementation in the country. The new system aims to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accuracy through full digital documentation.
Last year alone, nearly 250,000 penal orders were issued, highlighting the need for digital transformation to streamline processes. The new system enables faster adjudication by handling case proceedings digitally, from receiving requests to issuing judgments. This not only reduces the workload on courts and litigants but also addresses the logistical challenges posed by approximately six million accumulated paper files.
A penal order, a judicial decision issued in minor cases, imposes a fine without the need for a public trial or witness hearings. The legislative changes also cover the handling of items seized in connection with criminal cases. By aligning Kuwait with global trends in digital judicial reform, the amendment enhances transparency and accuracy through full digital documentation.
With the Cabinet's approval, Kuwait is set to transform its Penal Order System, enabling courts to issue rulings in minor cases entirely through digital means. This significant step towards e-justice is expected to improve efficiency, reduce backlogs, and align Kuwait with international digital judicial reform trends.
