Supreme Court launches digital portal for certified copies

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has introduced a Digital Certified Copies Portal, enabling citizens, lawyers and litigants to apply online

By Asad Kharal

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has introduced a Digital Certified Copies Portal, enabling citizens, lawyers and litigants to apply online for certified copies of judgments and orders and obtain them digitally, in a major step towards modernising judicial services.

The facility has been introduced through a Supreme Court circular issued on September 7, 2026, and is available through the court’s Public Facilitation Portal.

The circular, issued by Fawad Ahmad, Additional Registrar (Judicial), states that the initiative is aimed at making the judicial system more accessible, efficient and technology-enabled by reducing procedural delays and physical barriers faced by those seeking certified court documents.

Under the new facility, any person can submit an application through the Public Facilitation Portal to obtain a digital certified copy of a judgment or order issued by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has also made detailed guidelines regarding the application process available through its official website to facilitate users and ensure that the system can be accessed without unnecessary procedural hurdles.

The circular was issued with the approval of the Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan, and has been circulated among all High Court Registries, the Supreme Court Bar Association and Advocates-on-Record and other advocates across the country.

The initiative has received a positive response from members of the legal community.

Rashid Sharif Chaudhry, Information Secretary of the People’s Lawyers Forum Lahore High Court, welcomed the development while speaking to Minute Mirror and described it as an important step towards improving access to justice.

He said the initiative would make the judicial system more accessible, transparent and timely, while providing considerable relief to lawyers and litigants by reducing the time and procedural requirements involved in obtaining certified copies.

Chaudhry further said the People’s Lawyers Forum appreciated efforts aimed at facilitating the delivery of justice and promoting the effective use of technology within the judicial system.

The digital system is expected to address several difficulties traditionally faced by lawyers and litigants seeking certified copies. Under the conventional process, applicants could be required to visit court offices, submit applications physically and wait for the documents to be prepared and issued.

The new online facility is expected to reduce the need for repeated visits to the Supreme Court’s offices. Lawyers practising in cities such as Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar may also benefit by being able to apply remotely rather than travelling to Islamabad solely to obtain court documents.

The system could also improve access for litigants residing in remote areas and reduce dependence on physical interaction with court offices.

A senior Supreme Court advocate said the initiative could prove particularly useful in cases involving appeals, execution proceedings and preparation of legal cases, where timely access to certified judgments and orders is often essential.

The Supreme Court has directed its Director IT to ensure that the relevant circular is uploaded on the court’s official website. Notices regarding the facility have also been displayed at the Principal Seat in Islamabad and the Supreme Court’s Branch Registries in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta.

The launch forms part of the Supreme Court’s broader efforts to expand digital judicial services, including e-filing, online case tracking and SMS-based cause-list alerts.

Legal observers believe the availability of digital certified copies could help lawyers prepare cases more efficiently and reduce procedural delays, contributing to the court’s wider objective of developing a more accessible and technology-enabled justice system.