Oman has set up 40 courts of first instance to look into all commercial, civil, penal and personal status cases, as enshrined in the new Judicial Authority Law, said Justice Minister Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Hinai this week.
Hinai, who recently administered the oath to more than 100 judges posted mostly in these courts, said six appellate courts had also been set up in Muscat, Nizwa, Salalah, Ibra and Ibri, in addition to the newly created Supreme Court which will settle disputes between the lower courts, reported the Gulf News.
Hinai said the justice ministry was being restructured to meet the requirements of the new law, which allows total judicial independence in keeping with the injunctions of Oman's first written Constitution, which also lays increasing emphasis on human rights and freedom of expression.
He said a directorate general of judicial inspection had been established in the ministry, in addition to three other officials appointed to streamline work and improve output and efficiency.
The goal is to ensure that every individual gets justice in the sultanate, said the paper - Albawaba.com
He said to ensure the smooth functioning of judicial institutions in the Sultanate, a Royal Decree was issued on the establishment of a Supreme Judicial Council under the chairmanship of the Omani monarch. "This council drafts the general policies of the judiciary and guarantees its independence and development."
He said the ministry was paying equal attention to Omanisation and some 86 senior employees were being sent abroad to obtain Ph.Ds and other post-graduate degrees, while another 246 were being trained in the country.
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
