THE United Arab Emirates has taken a revolutionary measure to move towards the lofty ideal of inexpensive and speedy justice by establishing One Day Courts to expedite minor cases in the country. The aim is to reduce the backlog of cases in the courts, making the criminal legal system more efficient.
The new courts will have power to hear and decide over 50 misdemeanours addressed by the Penal Code including those relating to labour strikes, eavesdropping in phone calls, setting fire to property of another by mistake, traffic violations, non-implementation of judgements concerning alimony and child-support, attempted suicide and concealment of crime related tools. As the one-day courts can also address all cases related to the federal law concerning entry and residence of foreign nationals in the UAE and wage and salary cases, these would help provide prompt relief to expatriates. The move would surely ensure efficient and expeditious disposal of cases, inculcate belief in the rule of law and strengthen efforts to enhance the legislative and legal environment in the state in keeping with the tremendous developments taking place across all economic, scientific and social fields. With all this in view, other countries especially Pakistan can also emulate the good example of the UAE by establishing one-day courts to hear minor offences which cause an unwanted burden on the judicial system. Despite repeated claims, the backlog of cases continues to present an insurmountable challenge to the concept of fair, inexpensive and speedy justice. It is because of delays spanning over years and decades that many people prefer not to knock the doors of the judiciary when wronged. A judicial delegation might visit UAE to observe working of the one-day courts and then make recommendations to the government for the purpose.
