23 February 2017

By SHARIF M. TAHA

RIYADH: The electronic link between the justice and interior ministries has achieved tangible results in terms of speedy enforcement of rulings, and raising the efficiency of judiciary’s work and services, according to a Justice Ministry official.

Dr. Hamad Al-Khidairi, Justice Ministry undersecretary for enforcement affairs, said joint transactions between the two ministries included issuance of notifications, travel bans and suspension of services, among other things.

The pace of enforcement of rulings and transactions via the electronic link has grown by 86 percent since the start of the current Hijri year, he added.

The number of transactions and orders between the two ministries stood at 91,776, compared to 49,296 in the same period last year, he said.

The link has allowed judges to complete rulings electronically in accordance with clear-cut and advanced electronic paths, compared to previous old-fashioned mechanisms in the form of government correspondence that could take up to 60 days, Al-Khidairi added.

He said this step comes following directives to stop paper-based correspondence and shift to full electronic transactions regarding notifications, travel bans and suspension of services or their removal.

Since the inception of the electronic link between the two ministries in 1436, 726,238 electronic orders have been implemented, including 202,435 travel bans, 188,357 suspensions of services, 77,428 notifications and 42,991 arrest warrants, he added.

The same period witnessed the removal of 87,007 travel bans, 84,602 service suspensions, 26,664 notifications and 16,754 arrest warrants, Al-Khidairi said.

The Justice Ministry recently adopted a series of steps aimed at improving its services, including electronic links with government agencies.

The ministry also ordered an electronic link between generalized (criminal and family affairs) and appellate courts to speed up issuance of rulings and transactions.

© Arab News 2017