The pandemonium that struck in 2019 has forced many sectors of the economy to accelerate the process of digitisation and the transfer of work to an online format. The court system is no exception. But while the UK is hearing cases worth hundreds of billions on Zoom and China is introducing court via mobile phone, Cyprus is still drowning in paperwork and remains the slowest judicial system in Europe.
Incidentally, the island state launched its €250,000 i-Justice system in July 2021. It was used to register new cases with the courts. All the necessary information was stored on it. At first, there were no serious complaints from users of the i-Justice portal. But at the beginning of 2023, the e-Justice system broke down. In particular, there were serious technical problems with the registration of new cases. Complaints from court staff and lawyers poured in, leading to real chaos. The shortcomings forced the government to suspend the programme and send it back for revision. Fortunately, testing of the system is nearing completion.
According to the head of the Sub-Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Nicodemos Damianou, the updated e-justice system will be launched in early 2025.
By the way, the main task of the developers is to restore the system and make it fully operational so that it effectively responds to the needs and demands of its users.
Напомним, что по задумке, чтобы подать документы, или, например, оплатить гербовый сбор совсем не обязательно будет ехать в суд. Это можно сделать, не выходя из дома. Новая программа нацелена на оптимизацию юридических процессов и отказ от прежних обременительных и трудоемких ручных методов обработки и рассмотрения информации. К слову, новая платформа электронного правосудия призвана объединить всех участников процесса: адвокатов, юридические фирмы, сотрудников судов, секретарей, судей, полицию и соответствующие государственные органы.
Нововведения касаются подачи и регистрации определенных исковых заявлений, перечисленных ниже:
- Окружные суды Никосии и Ларнаки — гражданская юрисдикция: заявления и уведомления о банкротстве, общие заявления, погашение долга и прочее.
- Окружной суд Фамагусты — гражданская юрисдикция: привлечение к суду.
- Административный суд — надзорная инстанция: апелляции.
Recall that according to the idea, to file documents or pay stamp duty, for example, will not necessarily have to go to court. It can be done from the comfort of your home. The new programme aims to streamline legal procedures and to replace the current cumbersome and time-consuming manual methods of processing and checking information. Moreover, the new e-Justice platform is designed to unite all parties involved in the process: lawyers, law firms, court staff, clerks, judges, police and relevant government agencies.
The innovations relate to the filing and registration of certain statements of claim listed below:
- Nicosia and Larnaca District Courts - civil jurisdiction: bankruptcy petitions and notifications, general petitions, discharge of debts and others.
- Famagusta District Court - civil jurisdiction: indictments.
- Administrative Court - supervisory jurisdiction: appeals.