The Court Complex
It has been a year since the move of all the courts within Kuala Lumpur to the Court Complex at Jalan Duta. All things considered, the transition period has not been too painful and teething problems have mostly been ironed out. Of course, the pursuit for perfection is never ending and before the dust settles on old problems, new issues will crop up. The constant and more pressing issues which have yet to be solved include parking shortages and traffic congestion during peak hours around the court vicinity. Then there are the recent issues of haphazard parking of vehicles within the Court compound, access to the drop-off zones being blocked by lawyers’ vehicles, smoking in the cafeteria and so on.
The Court Liaison Committee (CLC) is actively working with the relevant Judicial Officers on all the physical aspects of the Court premises and towards this end, has regular meetings with them. The CLC welcomes views from the members to assist in making our “working” environment more organised and pleasant.
Presently, our committee is coordinating with the Court on a parking system for members of the Bar within the Court compound and members will be kept informed once this plan comes to fruition.
Practice in the Courts
The Committee is currently arranging for regular annual meetings with the various divisions of the High Courts (which if time and circumstances permit, can become more regular) whilst meetings with the Judges of the Magistrate and Sessions Courts are ongoing on a regular basis.
With a view towards greater effectiveness and efficiency in the administration process, the committee invites members to write in or fill up the survey forms if you face difficulties in any area of your practice, preferably with actual details furnished. The judicial officers have consistently informed us not to generalise but to furnish particulars of the problems encountered in order for them to identify and get to the root of problem.
The recurring issues of delay in extractions, the conducting of file searches, obtaining dates for hearing and Court decorum and respect of members of the Bench, the Bar and the court staff, consistently appear on our agenda for discussion with the judiciary. Sometimes the solutions given have faced hurdles in implementation due to various age-old limitations such as mind-sets, old habits etc.
However, the good news is that our courts are moving slowly but surely, towards greater efficiency as can be seen in the trial runs for electronic recording of court proceedings and after the issue was brought up to the judiciary that our members were taken by surprise at this development, assurance was given that it is in a preliminary test-run and before implementing any particular system, our members will be consulted. Some hints have also been given that in due course, electronic filing and e-mail correspondences will be a way of life for practitioners.
Meeting with the Insolvency Office
In the meantime, the CLC has also met with the other stakeholder in the court practice, that is the Insolvency Office, to iron out various problems concerning winding-up and bankruptcy proceedings. One of the recent issues which members faced was that of the Insolvency Office’s insistence on the payment of RM500 costs upon the withdrawal of petitions. At the meeting, the Director of Insolvency has assured members that they will leave the matter of costs to the court and will abide by any order made.
We close off by inviting members to take the initiative to contact any of our members if you have issues so that we can make court practice a less stressful affair.
Dahlia Lee
Chair
Court Liaison Committee
It has been a year since the move of all the courts within Kuala Lumpur to the Court Complex at Jalan Duta. All things considered, the transition period has not been too painful and teething problems have mostly been ironed out. Of course, the pursuit for perfection is never ending and before the dust settles on old problems, new issues will crop up. The constant and more pressing issues which have yet to be solved include parking shortages and traffic congestion during peak hours around the court vicinity. Then there are the recent issues of haphazard parking of vehicles within the Court compound, access to the drop-off zones being blocked by lawyers’ vehicles, smoking in the cafeteria and so on.
The Court Liaison Committee (CLC) is actively working with the relevant Judicial Officers on all the physical aspects of the Court premises and towards this end, has regular meetings with them. The CLC welcomes views from the members to assist in making our “working” environment more organised and pleasant.
Presently, our committee is coordinating with the Court on a parking system for members of the Bar within the Court compound and members will be kept informed once this plan comes to fruition.
Practice in the Courts
The Committee is currently arranging for regular annual meetings with the various divisions of the High Courts (which if time and circumstances permit, can become more regular) whilst meetings with the Judges of the Magistrate and Sessions Courts are ongoing on a regular basis.
With a view towards greater effectiveness and efficiency in the administration process, the committee invites members to write in or fill up the survey forms if you face difficulties in any area of your practice, preferably with actual details furnished. The judicial officers have consistently informed us not to generalise but to furnish particulars of the problems encountered in order for them to identify and get to the root of problem.
The recurring issues of delay in extractions, the conducting of file searches, obtaining dates for hearing and Court decorum and respect of members of the Bench, the Bar and the court staff, consistently appear on our agenda for discussion with the judiciary. Sometimes the solutions given have faced hurdles in implementation due to various age-old limitations such as mind-sets, old habits etc.
However, the good news is that our courts are moving slowly but surely, towards greater efficiency as can be seen in the trial runs for electronic recording of court proceedings and after the issue was brought up to the judiciary that our members were taken by surprise at this development, assurance was given that it is in a preliminary test-run and before implementing any particular system, our members will be consulted. Some hints have also been given that in due course, electronic filing and e-mail correspondences will be a way of life for practitioners.
Meeting with the Insolvency Office
In the meantime, the CLC has also met with the other stakeholder in the court practice, that is the Insolvency Office, to iron out various problems concerning winding-up and bankruptcy proceedings. One of the recent issues which members faced was that of the Insolvency Office’s insistence on the payment of RM500 costs upon the withdrawal of petitions. At the meeting, the Director of Insolvency has assured members that they will leave the matter of costs to the court and will abide by any order made.
We close off by inviting members to take the initiative to contact any of our members if you have issues so that we can make court practice a less stressful affair.
Dahlia Lee
Chair
Court Liaison Committee