Tiring practices in Justice System.

by Harshi C. Perera

(May 05, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) I went to the Registrar's Office of the Magistrate Court, Moratuwa, to get photocopies of a case bearing number 51443, which is a historical case of a nine years old detainee named 'Somawathi'. I got four pages of photocopies after much effort.

I had to go to the Registrar's Office for 5 days to obtain only the said four pages of photocopies. First day, on 27th March 2011 I filed the motion to get photocopies of the said documents. Then I had to go on 29th March 2011 and again on 12th April 2011 and again on 03rd May 2011 to the Office and at last I got them on May 4, 2011. 

They told me to come on March 29, 2011 to pay the fees of the documents and I did so. The numbers of the receipts issued for the payments are 958188 & 958187 and the values are Rs.32/= & Rs.54/= respectively. They asked me to come on April 12, 2011 to obtain these documents and proceedings.

On the 12th, I got only the certified copies of the proceedings but not the requested photocopies. They said the photocopy machine was out of order and the person who handled the photocopy machine was not present. I was very disappointed and reluctantly I took the telephone number of the office and returned home.

I phoned the registrar office for about four times. When I phoned on day before yesterday, they confirmed that the photocopy machine is in working order. Therefore, I went at about 2.30pm to obtain the photocopies of the said documents. However, the particular person handling it said to come on the other day because he had to do some other works. 

Hence, I went yesterday and collected the 4 pages of photocopies. 

These are ideal examples to show as to how the justice system in Sri Lanka is practiced. These things are tiring the people of this country. This is prevailing not only in Moratuwa Court's Office, but the situation in other Courts' Offices is more or like the same.

Today, high class and influential people talk about introducing new laws and doing researches on the existing criminal justice system of Sri Lanka. These things may be good for their own wellbeing. However, the tragedies prevailing in the existing system expresses as to what kind of a tiring system is practiced.