Kota bharu: Kelantan has established a technology courtroom to conduct proceedings online, said state Syariah Chief Judge Datuk Ibrahim Deris. He said the facility at the state Syariah Court was in line with current technological developments and would ease trial proceedings for parties unable to be physically present.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the online proceedings are only allowed for mal (non-criminal) cases, including hibah (gift) confirmation, divorce, nafkah, and matrimonial property. This facility is specifically for parties who cannot attend due to health, distance, or certain constraints. Syariah criminal cases are not permitted to be conducted virtually to preserve judicial procedures and the sanctity of the law, as explained by Ibrahim during the launch of the facility.

Ibrahim elaborated that the online courtroom not only facilitates parties unable to attend court but also helps reduce backlogged cases caused by absent witnesses. He cited an example of a hibah confirmation case involving a witness from Australia who was unable to return in the near future. Previously, such a case might be delayed significantly, but now it can be resolved more swiftly with the technology in place.

The most frequently heard cases online involve inheritance, wills, and hibah, he noted. Guidelines indicate that inheritance cases usually take around a year to resolve, but with the new initiative, they can be settled in less than a year. In some instances, if all parties cooperate, cases may even be resolved within a day or two.