Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in Parliament [Source: Fijian Government]

The stipulated number of High Court judges has been removed in the judiciary system following the revision of the High Court Amendment Bill 2019.

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says under the Magistrates Court Act, there is no stated figures in respect of the number of magistrate judges the magistrates they can have any time and they also need the same provision in high court.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the selection of judges depends on Chief Justice, Judicial Services Commission and their budget.

He states that in 1997 there were 10 high court judges, then 12 in 1999, 15 in 2002, 18 in 2007 and finally 25 in 2012 and that number remains until to date.

“The Bill itself simply says that the requirement of the numbers will be removed and there is one other miscellaneous and that is correcting the spelling which is originally put down as Judicial Service Commission to inserting the alphabet ‘S’ into that.”

Sayed Khaiyum says the amendment of the bill will add to the independence of the judiciary.

He adds the government is should also ensure that it provides enough money to ensure that that independence is maintained.

Meanwhile, the High Court Amendment Bill 2019 was passed unanimously.