New courts, new system to speed up cases

What say you on the issue below?

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of judges is expected to be reduced gradually with the introduction of a new computerised system in courts.

The courts will use the Court Management System (CMS), Court Recording Transcription (CRT), E-Filing, and Queue Management System (QMS).

Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi said this yesterday after launching two New Commercial Courts (NCC) here yesterday.

He said the number of judges could be reduced once backlogged cases were cleared; under the new electronic system fresh cases could be disposed of three to four times faster.

At present, there are 133 judges in the Federal Court, Court of Appeal and the High Court.

The setting up of the computerised system costs about RM69 million and is expected to be completed by year end.

"It is economical when you compare it with the time saved. A case which takes three days to be completed will now take one day.

"Furthermore, the judges' salaries are not cheap. It costs more than RM50,000 per month in terms of their salary, allowances, office and secretary."

Zaki said the new system had already been introduced here and civil and commercial cases were being disposed of faster than in the old system.

Zaki said the use of the new system will soon be extended to the courts in Shah Alam, Penang and Johor Baru, followed by other towns.

"The disposal rate in Kuala Lumpur will be a benchmark for the other courts to follow."

Zaki, however, said cases registered before yesterday will be managed in accordance with the old system.

"If you put the new and old cases in the same system, the old cases will continue to become older."

Earlier, Zaki was briefed on the new systems and the NCC by High Court Deputy Registrar Hamidah Mohd Deril. The new courts are computerised. They are called new courts as existing Commercial Courts continue to handle cases as before.

Zaki said the NCC were set up as part of the judiciary's endeavour to speed up disposal of commercial cases.

Zaki said if parties did not delay filing the necessary documents on time, the cases could be fixed for trial in less than six months.

"Presently, commercial cases that were filed in 2002, 2003 and 2004 are still waiting for trial dates."

Also at the launch were Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Arifin Zakaria, Federal Court Judge Datuk James Foong, Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Md Raus Sharif and Bar Council president K. Ragunath.

Ragunath said later the council was happy with the launch of the new systems. "Finally it has been computerised and this will definitely speed up the disposal of cases."