New Delhi, Sep 11 (TIWN) The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a paradigm shift with technology stepping in in every field, and the judiciary was no different -- the typical physical courtrooms were replaced by virtual ones where proceedings were conducted through videoconference.

Now, Parliament's Standing Committee on Law and Justice, in its 103rd report 'Functioning of Court Proceedings through Videoconferencing' has recommended that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology may be approached to develop indigenous software applications to handle virtual court hearings.  It also wanted development of Artificial intelligence systems capable of supporting bulk documentation etc.  "The committee recommends to rope in private IT companies, if need be, to develop Artificial Intelligence systems capable of supporting bulk documentation, remote location of parties, and sophisticated use of graphics," said the report submitted to Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday.  "The committee believes that legal technology start-ups engaged in innovative solutions can play a crucial role in harnessing the unlimited potential of technology to connect stakeholders in the justice delivery system and in finding solutions that are affordable and efficient, and therefore recommends to the government to promote them," the report said.  Commenting on the panel recommendations, Dr Arvind Singhatiya, founder and CEO, LegalKart, said: "Innovative legal technologies will pave the way forward for citizens to access justice in a speedy, transparent and convenient way. Technology is now diminishing the geographical boundaries and creating unprecedented access to legal systems and to the key stakeholders in India."