Every possible step would be taken to expedite hearing cases - Justice Minister

Nawalapitiya group corr.

W. D. J. Senevirathna, Minister of Justice and Judicial Reforms, said that every possible step would be taken to speed up hearing of Court cases. Accordingly criminal cases would be straight away directed to High Courts without hearing preliminary evidence at Magistrate's Courts.

Minister Senevirathna made above observations addressing a ceremony held at Nawalapitiya Magistrate's Court premises. The ceremony was held to mark the elevation of the Magistrate's Court, Nawalapitiya to the status of a District/Magistrate's Court and the laying of the foundation stone for a new Courts Complex.

High Court, District Court Judges, Magistrates, officials of the Ministry of Justice and Judicial Reforms, a large number of Attorneys-at-law were present on this occasion.

Continuing the minister stated that some people imprisoned for minor offences or inability to pay the fine imposed on them fall prey or get the chance of associating hardcore criminals, underworld gangsters inside the prison and come out not as reformed good citizens but as criminals.

As such the concept of society building cannot be expected from such people. In the present day the whole world has new concepts with the view to reducing crimes. Today the number of crimes has gone up alarmingly in our country. Many talk on this topic. Yet some people happen to go to two courts for one case. So far the time given for questioning the suspects was not sufficient.

Therefore the time factor was revised to 48 hours from 24 hours. So the police have to question the suspects and record their statements within these 48 hours. Everything would be done through the Ministry for the well-being of the society.

"A very firm decision has been taken to establish Court Complexes in almost every main town in the island through which a very great service could be rendered to the general public. The main objective of the Ministry is to establish Combined Courts i.e. District/Magistrate's Courts which could hear both Civil and Criminal cases. But unfortunately we do not get the full support of everybody for this purpose. For instance when I wanted to introduce this system at Kaduwela, the Lawyers' Associations of Homagama and Hulftsdorp opposed it.

Involving in a court case is similar to walking along a rail road. There's no end in it. Sometimes the case may drag on for about 10 years in the District Court, then to the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and so on. Finally it will take about 25 years to come to an end.

By this time the second generation will know the results of the case. So it is an unbearable burden that cannot be shouldered by the common man. Therefore going to the Courts has become a bitter thing for the people. As such I try my best to make Court Houses pleasant places for the people."

"For this purpose there should be more facilities in Court Houses. Felix Dias Bandaranaike did a lot to uplift the standard of Court Houses. Yet there were lot of shortcomings. Many a number of Court Houses were upgraded. Yet they were housed in the same old buildings. There was no sufficient furniture.

By the side of the Judge's bench at Horana Magistrate's Court a bucket is kept on rainy days as the roof is leaking. In the same way a pillar is broken at Kalawana Magistrate's Court. So a temporary support is fixed for it. Prisons are overcrowded today.

A project is under way to study the family background of the prisoners and help them. In order to reduce the crowd inside prisons, in future, instead of sentencing to prison, those who fail to pay the fines or those who are convicted for the first time will be asked to engage in community services" the Minister added.

Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Deputy Minister of Power and Energy said that it was his ambition in 1997/98 to upgrade this court. People around the Nawalapitiya electorate were forced to go to Gampola. Anyway during these two years problems in the judicial field have been recognised and solutions were found.

The present minister of Justice has done a great deal by now to promote the standard of judicial affairs in the country. Accordingly within a very short period of three months most of the basic facilities have been provided.

Suhada Gamlath, Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Judicial Reform, said that a very remarkable change has taken place during the past two years in the said Ministry since Minister Senevirathna took office.

The standard of Court Houses islandwide has been uplifted.

C. S. E. Lekamwasam, High Court Judge, Kandy observed that he served in this Court as a Magistrate in 1983 and since then he had had a close connection. Around 70% of the judges had served here. This Court House had been established in 1950's and he was happy to see it being upgraded to the status of a District Court. But it won't harm Gampola in any away. Even the Lawyers' Council would not hesitate to endorse it. They would get an opportunity to widen their knowledge about civil cases. On the other hand it would pave the path to speed up hearing of cases.

The first District Judge/Magistrate C. D. Rajapaksa delivered the welcome speech while Nayanananda Aluthgamage, President, Lawyers' Council, Nawalapitiya made the vote of thanks. Samoon M. Imthiaz, Attorney-at-Law, Secretary, Lawyers' Council also spoke.