PUTRAJAYA (May 31): Time bars will not be enforced for the filing of cause papers and notice of appeal throughout the country during the full lockdown period from June 1 to 14, said Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.
Time bar exemptions will also be given for submission of cause papers and other court documents, court orders and the submission of appeal records or notice of appeal, she said.
“However, upon the conclusion of the lockdown, parties are given 14 days from the end of the lockdown to file the necessary documents in court or any other directive issued by the government regarding the judicial and legal service operations in the lockdown period,” she said in a statement.
“The court is doing this under Section 16A of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 and all the other relevant sections of the Lower Courts Act 1955, so that it is in line with the Temporary Measures for Reducing the Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid 19) Act 2020.
“This is in public interests, justice, public safety and health, that I have issued this directive with regard to court matters all over Malaysia,” said Tengku Maimun.
Parties normally have 30 days from the date of the decision to file appeals for civil cases, and 14 days for criminal cases.
Similar circumstances also apply to the filing of affidavits on an urgent basis where it could be done within 14 days after the lockdown period ends, the chief justice said.
In view of the exemptions announced, Tengku Maimun said parties should not object or file objections that the application or appeals are filed out of time.
This directive issued by the chief justice was addressed to all Federal Court, Court of Appeal and High Court judges and judicial commissioners, as well as Sessions Court judges and magistrates, along with deputy registrars or senior assistant registrars of the respective courts.
Copies of the directive were also issued to the chairman of the Malaysian Bar, along with the presidents of the Sabah Law Society and the Advocates Association of Sarawak.
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