News / National
Three High Court judges under fire
09 Apr 2012 at 20:30hrs | Views
CHIEF Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku has expressed displeasure with the performance of three High Court judges whom he accused of delaying in handing down judgments, urging them to improve.
Justice Chidyausiku, however, said he had no problems with the general performance of the rest of the bench.
The Chief Justice, who also chairs the Judicial Service Commission, said he had since talked to the judges in question.
He however, did not name them.
Addressing judges and other members of the Judicial Service Commission at the launch of the strategic plan and code of ethics for judges recently, the Chief Justice said those few judges were tainting the image of the judiciary.
"As the head of the judiciary, I am satisfied with the overall performance of the judges. They are doing their best under near-impossible conditions.
"The majority of judges hand down their judgments timeously. However, I regret to admit that at least two or three judges of the High Court have persistently inordinately delayed in handing down judgments.
"I have had an occasion to speak to these judges over this issue."
He urged the few judges who are tainting the image of the judiciary to improve.
"To the few who have given the judiciary a bad name through poor performance, please pull up your socks and join the rest of the judiciary that are doing an excellent job," he said.
The promulgation of the judiciary code of ethics, according to the Chief Justice, will provide a legal framework for dealing with the issue of inordinate delays in handing down of judgments.
The code of ethics, among other issues, compels the judges to hand down court judgments within 90 days of the date when the judgments would have been reserved.
Speaking at the same occasion, Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa hailed the Judicial Service Commission.
"I take my hat off to salute and acknowledge the very positive developments that have taken place within the judicial service in a very short period of time.
"Thanks to the hard work of the commission and its members and the support we have received from our co-operating partners," he said.
The minister noted some improvement in the conditions of service for the judicial staff and acquisition of vehicles that had been deployed to all provinces.
Reopening of circuit courts and the installation of computer and Internet facilities at all courts countrywide was also viewed as a positive development spearheaded by the JSC.
Justice Chidyausiku, however, said he had no problems with the general performance of the rest of the bench.
The Chief Justice, who also chairs the Judicial Service Commission, said he had since talked to the judges in question.
He however, did not name them.
Addressing judges and other members of the Judicial Service Commission at the launch of the strategic plan and code of ethics for judges recently, the Chief Justice said those few judges were tainting the image of the judiciary.
"As the head of the judiciary, I am satisfied with the overall performance of the judges. They are doing their best under near-impossible conditions.
"The majority of judges hand down their judgments timeously. However, I regret to admit that at least two or three judges of the High Court have persistently inordinately delayed in handing down judgments.
"I have had an occasion to speak to these judges over this issue."
"To the few who have given the judiciary a bad name through poor performance, please pull up your socks and join the rest of the judiciary that are doing an excellent job," he said.
The promulgation of the judiciary code of ethics, according to the Chief Justice, will provide a legal framework for dealing with the issue of inordinate delays in handing down of judgments.
The code of ethics, among other issues, compels the judges to hand down court judgments within 90 days of the date when the judgments would have been reserved.
Speaking at the same occasion, Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa hailed the Judicial Service Commission.
"I take my hat off to salute and acknowledge the very positive developments that have taken place within the judicial service in a very short period of time.
"Thanks to the hard work of the commission and its members and the support we have received from our co-operating partners," he said.
The minister noted some improvement in the conditions of service for the judicial staff and acquisition of vehicles that had been deployed to all provinces.
Reopening of circuit courts and the installation of computer and Internet facilities at all courts countrywide was also viewed as a positive development spearheaded by the JSC.
Source - TH
