Thai courts embrace future with new IT systems

The Central Administrative Court of Thailand will later this year open an electronic courtroom under its “e-court” (“excellence court”) aspirations to meet the national “Thailand 4.0” policy. 

Meanwhile, its “e-filing” lawsuit-submitting system will be installed by March and implemented on a pilot basis from September.

Office of the Administrative Courts deputy secretary-general Atichoke Pholdee said on Tuesday that the projects were also a response to the policy of Supreme Administrative Court president Piya Patangta to make 2018 the year for developing public service efficiency through the use of electronic systems. 

Atichoke said the main goal was to push forward the IT system to develop the Administrative Courts into “e-courts” with an emphasis on international-standard administration. In particular, the aim was to speed up trials in cases that were more than two years old so they could completed by the end of 2018. 

Besides the current 11 regional administrative courts, three more would be established by October in Phuket, Supan Buri and Yala, he said, adding that the office was recruiting 14 more judges to boost its speed and effectiveness.

This follows the recent implementation of technology to allow people to pay fines and fees by credit card at the Central Administrative Court. The office is also developing a system to scan visitors’ ID card information so they will no longer need to leave their cards at a security booth or present their cards at contact points, he said.

People will also soon be able to contact the Central Administrative Court via phone to make an appointment to file a lawsuit.

An “e-courtroom” would be equipped with IT systems for judges and officials to access and present case information from a “big data” central server. The scheme will be introduced later this year on a pilot basis, after a law amendment allows its implementation. If it proves successful, consideration will be given to expanding it to all courtrooms at the Central Administrative Court, he added.

Meanwhile, case files were being scanned and kept as “e-records”, which would be in use by both the Central Administrative Court and the Supreme Administrative Court from the second quarter of fiscal year 2018. At the same time, the office’s website will be improved to facilitate auctions of seized assets, and QR code technology will be used to allow people to read case information and rulings on a smartphone app, he said.

Atichoke’s office has also joined with the National Science and Technology Development Agency to produce online and animated media for public access, along with articles on court rulings. The office is also providing training to state agencies on how to prevent right violations, in a bid to reduce lawsuits going to the Administrative Courts.