The High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court in Fiji are currently experiencing a backlog of approximately 3,613 pending cases as of January 2025. This information was shared by Justice Minister Siromi Turaga, in response to inquiries from MP Faiyaz Koya during a parliamentary session last month.
Notably, the number of pending cases has seen a decrease over recent years, with 4,621 cases recorded in 2023 and 4,276 in 2024. The data indicates a significant distinction between the types of cases across various courts. While criminal cases are prevalent in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, with a higher representation recorded, the High Courts in Suva, Lautoka, and Labasa show a contrary trend—civil cases outnumber criminal cases. Specifically, there were 2,926 pending civil cases compared to 814 criminal cases in 2023 and 2,934 civil cases versus 672 criminal cases in 2024.
As of this January, the total pending cases in the High Court include 2,083 civil cases and 736 criminal cases. This distribution highlights the complexities within Fiji’s judicial system, showing challenges in managing case resolutions effectively.
Moreover, ongoing reforms and discussions within the Ministry of Justice aim to improve the efficiency and accessibility of the judiciary, enhancing public trust in the legal framework. Past concerns voiced by Chief Justice Salesi Temo regarding delayed justice are being actively addressed with new initiatives that seek to streamline procedures and expedite the resolution of cases.
These developments indicate a commitment to improving the judicial process in Fiji, providing a hopeful outlook for timely and fair resolutions to legal matters. The continued focus on reform is a positive step towards building a more robust and effective legal system for all citizens.
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