ABU DHABI // Legal experts have welcomed changes to the judicial system that were announced on Sunday, agreeing that court proceedings should be sped up.
Amendments to the 1992 Code of Civil Procedures were approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
The changes will help to reduce delays in civil court cases and bring quicker verdicts for litigants.
Provisions include a new case-management system that allows electronic filing, and permitting litigants to appeal in the same court that issues a verdict.
“I salute the Government for excelling in everything. It regularly follows up on all that is hindering government work,” said Ahmed Al Khateri, head of Ras Al Khaimah Judicial Department.
“This is something that will speed up court proceedings and help us overcome burdens. There are also a number of other directives that are aimed at speeding up court procedures.”
The delay of court cases has been criticised internationally, most recently during the trial of Dr Cyril Karabus, a South African physician arrested at Dubai International Airport last year over the death of a young patient.
This led an FNC member to complain to the Minister of Justice, Dr Hadef Al Dhaheri.
Mosabeh Al Kitbi, of Sharjah, said delayed cases opened the door to foreign intervention. The minister replied that laws to reduce delays were coming.
Mr Al Khateri, a former FNC member, said the Ruler of RAK, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, regularly followed up on long cases in the courts and asked for a speedy resolution.
While some emirates lag behind Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Mr Al Khateri said the amendments would help to unify procedures in local and federal courts.
Hadeya Al Hammad, an Emirati lawyer, said the new online case-management system could save her several weeks of work and trips to the court.
“This will also enable lawyers to review cases from anywhere, not needing to go to court,” Ms Al Hammad said.
While being able to appeal in the same court as the verdict would improve matters, she warned that allowing litigants to appeal without a lawyer was “not advisable”.
“This needs to be done by a lawyer,” Ms Al Hammad said. “If the case failed the first time without a lawyer, then how will it be won the second time round without a lawyer?
“There are matters a legal consultant can pick up that a normal person would not.”
She also suggested the summer judicial break be shortened. Court has been out of session for more than a month, leading some cases to be adjourned for up to two months.
“This is the main reason cases are delayed,” Ms Al Hammad said. “Since judges only came back this week after their break at the end of July, a case I filed yesterday has a scheduled court hearing October 30.”
She said she could not understand why many cases are adjourned after several court hearings.
Nehro Mohammed, a lawyer in Abu Dhabi, said adjourning cases several times was a common practice and could prolong the process up to several months.
Other reasons for delayed cases includes the need to consult court experts and the limited number of Emirati lawyers, Mr Mohammed said.
He sympathised with judges for their workload but said that was not a reason to send cases to experts.
“Some cases don’t even need to go to an expert,” Mr Mohammed said. “And the expert always takes cases even when they are too busy, which means cases are delayed even longer.”
He echoed Ms Al Hammad’s concerns about allowing litigants to represent themselves.
“As a lawyer, I cannot go to hospital and perform surgery on myself,” Mr Mohammed said.
“A lawyer needs to file an appeal, only they will know what to write. Otherwise the appealer will end up writing his whole life story to the court.”
Law amendments will now go to the FNC for review and study before being presented to the President, Sheikh Khalifa, for his approval.
Ahmed Al Zaabi, a veteran lawyer and member of the FNC’s legal affairs committee, said it was only natural that the law evolve.
Court summonings and other announcements needed to be reviewed and changed.
“Today these are made using traditional methods through publication and through diplomacy if outside the country,” Mr Al Zaabi said. “This all takes time.”
osalem@thenational.ae
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
Age 26
Born May 17, 1991
Height 1.80 metres
Birthplace Sydney, Australia
Residence Eastbourne, England
Plays Right-handed
WTA titles 3
Prize money US$5,761,870 (Dh21,162,343.75)
Wins / losses 312 / 181
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Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The biog
Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children
She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career
She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence
Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
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The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
The 15 players selected
Muzzamil Afridi, Rahman Gul, Rizwan Haider (Dezo Devils); Shahbaz Ahmed, Suneth Sampath (Glory Gladiators); Waqas Gohar, Jamshaid Butt, Shadab Ahamed (Ganga Fighters); Ali Abid, Ayaz Butt, Ghulam Farid, JD Mahesh Kumara (Hiranni Heros); Inam Faried, Mausif Khan, Ashok Kumar (Texas Titans
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
