No more strict rules for postponing cases, says Bar president

Newly-appointed Chief Justice Richard Malanjum however wants lawyers to give good reasons for seeking adjournments, says George Varughese.

Malaysian Bar president George Varughese is happy that the new chief justice wants to have regular meetings with the Bar to sort out matters arising. (Bernama pic)

PUTRAJAYA: The judiciary will no longer observe a practice to refuse outright case postponements unless they involve “death or near-death” factors as was done under the previous chief justice, Malaysian Bar president George Varughese said today.

He said newly-appointed Chief Justice Richard Malanjum however took the position that adjournments would only be granted if there were proper and reasonable grounds.

Speaking after leading a delegation to pay a courtesy call on Malanjum, who assumed the position on Wednesday, Varughese said he asked Malanjum about whether the policy still remained.

He said the matter was raised as former chief justice Raus Sharif had said during the opening of the legal year in January that there would be no postponement of cases unless due to an emergency.

Varughese said Malanjum, a practising lawyer before he was elevated to the bench in 1992, also wanted to have regular meetings with the Bar.

“Preferably once in two months to sort out issues that may arise,” he said, adding that the Bar was pleased to have the regular consultative process initiated by Malanjum.

The relationship between the Bar and the bench soured last year after the Bar filed a suit to challenge the move to keep Raus and Court of Appeal president Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin in their positions despite both of them having reached the mandatory retirement age.

Both tendered their resignations to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong last month following the change of government in the 14th general election. -FMT