The Office of the Attorney General has acknowledged receiving the Civil Rules Review Report from Acting Chief Justice Justice Salesi Temo in June of this year.
The Civil Rules Review Report was prepared by the Civil Division Rules Committee, which includes judges and magistrates and is chaired by Justice Anare Tuilevuka.
Justice Temo mandated the Civil Division Rules Committee to review the existing High Court Rules and Magistrates Court Rules to improve case management.
Justice Temo’s concerns stem from chronic delays in the civil justice system, which ultimately undermine public confidence in the Judiciary.
The review of the Civil Court Rules aims to address one of the primary factors causing delays.
The Civil Rules Review Report identifies problems in the current High Court and Magistrates Court Rules and suggests solutions based on the collective experiences of judicial officers.
The recommendations include reducing timelines for applications and determinations, holding pre-trial conferences with judicial officers on the first call, and implementing mandatory mediation.
The Office of the Attorney General, through the Director of the Law Reform Commission, will conduct further consultations with stakeholders and the public before tabling the draft amendments.