The Judicature (Amendment) Bill aimed for the establishment of a three-member High Court to hear large-scale crimes and bribery and corruption cases will be tabled in parliament on Wednesday (May 09) and get it passed, the Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms Thalatha Atukorala said.
Addressing a media briefing at the Department of Government Information today, the Minister said the government hopes to get the bill passed by a simple majority vote after revisions have been made to the clauses that needed two-third majority as decided by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court last month accepting the Bill decided that it needs to be passed with a two-third majority as certain clauses included in the bill require amendments to the Constitution.
“We made the amendments to the clauses the Supreme Court pointed out, and now it can be passed with a simple majority, and tomorrow we will adopt this bill,” Justice Minister Thalatha Atukorala said.
She said the amendments were made to vest the powers in the Chief Justice, and accordingly, the Chief Justice will decide which cases to be heard and on appointing the judges.
The Judicature (Amendment) Bill is expected to expedite the judicial process of cases regarding serious frauds, corruption and other high profile crimes.
According to the proposed bill, cases would be heard daily and would be finished within a month and half. Powers will be vested in the Chief Justice when appointing judges to the permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar.
Joining in the media briefing, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said the government will be able to complete a large number of cases after the bill is passed.
He said that this process will be carried out without any political interference and that it would provide expeditious court decisions regarding the incidents that have taken place in the past as well as during the present government.
The Minister further said that the people have doubts about the hearing of cases being postponed continually and the orders given by some of the judges.
“Some of the cases were postponed for 8 months, some judges have given court orders that do not have any law, as the lawmakers say. There was a huge suspicion in the people,” Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.
