Supreme Court of the Maldives Celebrates Three Years of Success in Conducting Online Hearings
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly reshaped numerous aspects of our lives, including the functioning of government agencies and courts. In response to the closure of government offices during the public health emergency, the Supreme Court introduced a groundbreaking rule on May 19, 2020, outlining the conduct of remote hearings through technological means. This landmark development not only ensured the continuity of justice during challenging times but also presented an opportunity to revolutionize the accessibility and transparency of Supreme Court proceedings. On June 1, 2020, the first remote hearing took place via video conferencing, and the following day, on June 2, 2020, history was made with the first-ever live Supreme Court hearing streamed on the court’s YouTube channel.
“..thus time is very precious to us. Commencement of online hearings substaintially minimized the time spent at the courts. As a result, our productivity increased, and assisted us in meeting deadlines”
Fathimath Haleem, Counsel General | Attorney Generals office
This transformative move turned out to be a major boost for the Supreme Court. In 2020, a remarkable year, the court witnessed the highest number of cases scheduled in its history. The introduction of remote trials proved instrumental in overcoming challenges posed by physical closures, providing an innovative solution to ensure uninterrupted justice. The arrangement, established in 2020, has since been in continuous use, demonstrating its effectiveness and adaptability.
“The initiative taken by the Supreme Court is the Foundation of decentralizing the Justice System”
Ahmed Naufal, Public Prosecutor | Prosecutor Generals Office
The introduction of remote Supreme Court hearings through technological means has ushered in a new era for the Maldives judiciary. What began as an initiative to ensure uninterrupted justice services during the pandemic has evolved into a transformative force, revolutionizing the court’s operations and redefining accessibility to judicial proceedings. As the Maldives judiciary embraces technology and adapts to the changing landscape, we hope it will continue to enhance its effectiveness, accessibility, and transparency.
“The proceedings held at court and online hearings at the Supreme Court of the Maldives is now accessible to the public via YouTube and Twitter. Audio and video of both physical and online hearings are uploaded to YouTube and Twitter as soon as the hearing is concluded. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved in organizing this. All proceeding are made live via YouTube and Twitter except in instances specified in Article 42(c) of the constitution and can be viewed from anywhere“
Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan | Chief Justice of the Maldives