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Ethics and performance evaluation to be introduced for Judges next year
A code of conduct and a performance evaluation for judges are among the important changes to be introduced to the judicial system, Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem told Parliament yesterday. The Minister said, the code of conduct would be gazetted early next year and will be based on the Bangalore and Latimer House Principles.
The Bangalore Principles are intended to establish standards of ethical conduct for judges while the Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles govern issues including the harmonious balance of power and the interaction between the Parliament, the Executive and the Judiciary.
Speaking during the Committee Stage debate of the Ministry of Justice, Minister Hakeem said the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) would also introduce a system of evaluating the performance of judges. The evaluation would include delays in writing judgements. He said those in the legal fraternity would be able to make presentations to the JSC during such a process.
The Minister also said that from next month the Government Analyst’s Department would conduct its own DNA analysis of samples provided by court. “So far these tests were done by private institutions. From January, DNA testing will be undertaken at the new premises of the GA’s Department which has been set up at Battaramulla.
In addition, as part of the digitalisation process of the court system, fundamental rights applications could be filed electronically.
“This will be a pilot project and will initially be confined to FR applications filed in the Supreme Court,” the Minister said.
He also said that there would be a complete revamping of the professional legal education system in the country so that Sri Lankan lawyers could keep abreast of developments in the rest of the world.
A complete overhaul of the examination curriculum of the Sri Lanka Law College is also on the cards, he added.