THE Judicial Services Commission must take immediate accountability for court delays under its constitutional mandate to oversee the efficient functioning of the judiciary, says former Chief Justice of Tonga and High Court and Court of Appeal Fiji judge Michael Scott.
Speaking at last week’s Fiji Law Society Annual Convention in Nadi, Mr Scott highlighted specific constitutional provisions which assign explicit responsibility to the commission to maintain operational efficiency and advise the Attorney-General on administrative matters.
Mr Scott said that these constitutional duties were currently being neglected as case files piled up unaddressed.
He urged the commission to actively exercise its statutory oversight powers to restore operational integrity to the courts rather than allowing delays to persist unchecked.
He said there were provisions in the Constitution that gave the Judicial Services Commission the responsibility for the “efficient functioning of the judiciary”.
“These responsibilities have been solemnly reproduced in a new constitution, which is coming upon us soon.”
