A criminal trial at the HCM City People’s Court. — VNA/VNS Photos Hồng Đạt.

HCM CITY — The HCM City's People’s Court is fast-tracking its electronic court (e-court) model, aiming to enhance judicial efficiency and better serve citizens and businesses in the digital era.

The move aligns with the spirit of Resolution No. 57, which emphasises breakthroughs in digital governance and public service delivery, particularly in sectors facing rising workloads and increasingly complex cases.

Quách Hữu Thái, deputy chief justice of the city People’s Court, said digital transformation is no longer optional but has become a “vital factor” for the judiciary.

As caseloads continue to grow, technology plays a crucial role in ensuring both the timeliness and quality of case resolution.

“The application of information technology has helped address bottlenecks in legal proceedings.” 

Electronic management systems allow real-time monitoring of case progress, enabling timely detection and handling of delays.

Meanwhile, the digitisation of records and documents has significantly reduced processing time and improved the productivity of judges and court clerks.

Digitalisation has also enhanced transparency in judicial activities.

Citizens and litigants can now access case information and track progress online instead of visiting courts in person, saving time and costs while enabling greater public oversight.

Following the city-level direction, several subordinate units have proactively adopted digital solutions tailored to their operations.

Notably, the People’s Court of Region 1 has emerged as a pioneer, developing a relatively synchronised e-court model.

The unit has implemented an end-to-end digital internal management system covering the entire process — from receiving petitions and assigning cases to adjudication and returning results. This approach has streamlined administrative procedures and shortened case processing times.

To further refine the model, the court has partnered with Global Technology and Telecommunications Corporation (GTEL) and Trustsol Tech JSC to develop advanced technological solutions for judicial reform.

A key focus is building a platform that enables citizens and businesses to submit applications online, with automated verification, classification and routing to competent courts.

Nguyễn Quang Huynh, Chief Justice of the People’s Court of Region No. 1, said digital platforms would make legal procedures more convenient, reduce travel time and enhance accuracy and transparency in case handling.

From a technology perspective, Đặng Ngọc Tín, Deputy General Director of GTEL, said the court’s digital platform provides a foundation for further innovations, particularly in cybersecurity and data protection.

“The e-court ecosystem would help resolve disputes more efficiently, especially in credit and banking, contributing to a more stable business environment,” Trần Nguyên Huân, chairman of Trustsol Tech, said.

The benefits of digital transformation are also evident for court users.

Nguyễn Văn T., a resident of Bình Thọ Ward who was involved in a civil case, said that in the past he had to travel multiple times to the court, incurring significant time and costs.

Now, some procedures can be completed online, making the process much more convenient.

Speech-to-text software generating electronic court transcripts is being deployed for court clerks at regional courts.

Similarly, Lê Thị H. from Cầu Ông Lãnh Ward said receiving notices and documents electronically has made it easier to store and retrieve information, expressing hope that more online services will be expanded in the future.

Despite progress, challenges remain. Thái pointed out that technological infrastructure is not yet fully synchronised, some software systems have not been fully integrated, and there is still a shortage of IT personnel.

“Efforts are underway to address these issues through system upgrades, staff training and improved awareness among officials.”

In the coming period, the city’s court system will continue to develop integrated digital platforms across all levels, promote the digitisation of records, expand online public services, and gradually apply artificial intelligence in management and adjudication.

Strengthening cybersecurity and personal data protection will also be prioritised.

As the locality handling one of the largest and most diverse caseloads in the country, the city is expected to provide valuable practical experience for refining and scaling up the e-court model nationwide, contributing to a more modern, transparent and citizen-centric judiciary in the digital era. — VNS