JSC alerts Parliament to 1,910 cases pending at Criminal Court

A report compiled by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) reveals there are currently 1,910 cases pending at the Criminal Court.

The report, which raises concern over the delay in sentencing in criminal cases, has been submitted to the Parliament. JSC has requested the Parliament for its support to expedite the cases and take necessary action.

Presenting the report to the parliamentary floor this Tuesday, Speaker of Parliament, President Mohamed Nasheed announced there were currently total 1,910 cases pending at the Criminal Court. 12 of the cases have been in pending for 10 years, and 126 cases have been in pending for over five years. An additional 126 cases submitted since the Criminal Procedure Code came into effect are also in pending.

Nasheed said the reports cites failure to present necessary parties to court, and lack of clarity of charges as dominant reasons for the delay in closing cases.

Debating on the findings by JSC, Addu Meedhoo MP Rozaina Adam expressed concern some of the cases pending at the court were serious criminal cases.

She said that some of the cases pending for 10 years include trials of defendants charged with sexual crimes against children.

Rozaina also expressed concern over the high number of cases in pending presided over by individual judges.

She noted that one judge had 376 pending cases, and another 280 pending cases.

“This is an infringement on the rights, the loss of the rights of so many citizens,” said Rozaina.

She proposed forwarding JSC’s findings to the Judicial Committee of the Parliament for further evaluation.

West Henveyru MP Hassan Latheef also expressed concern over the delay in sentencing in criminal cases.

He said that the delay was a huge burden on defendants and their families. He said the high volume of cases pending at the Criminal Court posed a serious and pressing issue.

Hassan Latheef also voiced support for JSC’s recommendation that Criminal Court schedule the cases which have been in pending for 10 years in seven days, and clear them in 45 days.

He also suggested that the Criminal Court be required to publish a full schedule of the trial proceedings in the cases.