Coronavirus impact: Video-conferencing for civil cases launched in Abu Dhabi

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Dubai - The new measure is part of telecommuting and business continuity plan approved.

Ismail Sebugwaawo

Published: Wed 22 Apr 2020, 5:25 PM

Last updated: Wed 22 Apr 2020, 7:33 PM

All trial sessions for civil cases in Abu Dhabi can be conducted remotely via video-conferencing to ensure continuity during Covid-19, authorities announced on Wednesday.
The Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance said that it has endorsed the use of teleconferencing to conduct remote hearings in civil cases throughout the emirate.
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) explained that this will include all civil chambers, personal status, rental, summary matters and inheritance cases in addition to case preparation.
The new measure is part of telecommuting and business continuity plan approved and being implemented by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department in line with the efforts made by the UAE to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Yusuf Saeed Al Abri, undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, explained that the extension of the remote litigation system to include all jurisdictions of Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance is taking place in response to the directives given by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and President of the Judicial Department.

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Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance has endorsed the use of teleconferencing to conduct remote hearings in civil cases throughout the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This will include all civil chambers, personal status, rental, inheritance, summary matters and inheritance cases in addition to case preparation, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) announced. ? The new measure is part of telecommuting and business continuity plan approved and being implemented by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department in line with the efforts made by the UAE to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this regard, His Excellency Yusuf Saeed Al-Abri, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, explained that the extension of the remote litigation system to include all jurisdictions of Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance is taking place in response to the directives given by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and President of the Judicial Department; in support of business continuity by strengthening the globally recognized leading and prominent ability of the ADJD to manage emergencies and crises in the judicial sector. The judicial system in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, H.E. the Undersecretary added, is proving during the current crisis to be effective in maintaining the quality of the judicial services provided by diversifying its working methods to meet the requirements of changing circumstances, without prejudice to the legal controls of the litigation process. The judicial system in Abu Dhabi is committed to achieving performance excellence in terms of speeding up the case adjudication processes and the quality of judicial rulings, in addition to simplifying procedures to facilitate access to justice in accordance with the legal legislation and maintaining the safety of both the employees and customers of the ADJD. The implementation of the remote litigation system in civil courts is introduced by Article 2 of Federal Decree No. 10 of 2017 amending certain provisions of the Civil Procedures Law and which stipulates that the requirements of fee collection, registration, notification, submission of documents
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"The judicial system in Abu Dhabi is proving to be effective in maintaining the quality of its services by diversifying its working methods to meet the requirements of changing circumstances, without prejudice to the legal controls of the litigation process," said Al Abri.
Towards the end of March, remote virtual litigation hearings were introduced at the Commercial Summary Matters Court in Abu Dhabi with dozens of commercial cases examined in the first week in the presence of all parties through video-conferencing.
Earlier this month, the judicial department also adopted video communication technology to conduct family guidance sessions remotely, after the completion of the electronic registration process. The aim is to discuss the issues raised between the disputing parties and to try to reach an amicable settlement that preserves the rights of each other. In case of disagreement, the matter would be referred to the competent court in accordance with the established procedures.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com