JSC president says public confidence depends on resolving long-pending cases quickly

Judicial confidence can only be maintained when courts decide long-delayed cases without further delay, Judicial Service Commission (JSC) President Husnee Mubarik has said.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of three newly appointed judges of the Criminal Court and two newly appointed judges of the Civil Court, Husnee said the courts deliver many judgments and achieve important results.

“However, the most important task we have to do in order to maintain public confidence in the judiciary is to dispose of long-standing cases, particularly those that have been pending for more than five years, or more than three years, in an expeditious manner,” Husnee said.

He said delays in cases and unfair conduct of proceedings are visible to the public, and such issues tarnish the image of the judiciary. Therefore, Husnee urged judges to pay special attention to resolving long-standing cases pending in the courts.

Husnee noted that the JSC continues to receive complaints that some judges are not performing their duties properly, while others are working diligently. “We will treat them as serious issues,” he said.

If long-standing cases remain unresolved, it is the responsibility of the JSC to determine why they are being delayed, he added.

There are persistent complaints of delays in court cases, with some matters pending for longer than three years. The delay in obtaining justice remains a major public concern.