Digital technology should be promoted: Chief Justice Sharma

Chief Justice Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma has said the use of digital technology should be promoted to ensure transparency, accountability and public trust.

Speaking at a programme organised by the Internet Governance Institute in Kathmandu on Monday, Chief Justice Sharma said that although technological development has increased interdependence, risks and challenges are no longer confined to the borders of any single country, making collective efforts necessary to address them.

He said natural and human-induced crises have exposed the vulnerabilities of overall infrastructure, including digital and technological infrastructure.

He said the importance of secure digital records, reliable backups and effective disaster recovery systems has increased, as any loss of access to court records could seriously affect the functioning of the judiciary.

He noted that the use of technology in the judiciary has been increasing in areas including case management, electronic filing, evidence management and judicial hearings. He said the primary objective of digital transformation should be to strengthen access to justice and ensure speedy, cost-effective and citizen-centred delivery of justice.

He also stressed that internet governance should be firmly based on risk management, preparedness and resilience.

He said the “Judicial Information and Communication Technology Policy 2026” recently formulated by the Supreme Court has established information security as a key foundation of digital transformation.