Dar es Salaam: Principal Judge defends Land Division Court

Written by FAUSTINE KAPAMA.

THE Principal Judge, Mr Fakih Jundu has dismissed the claims that the High Court’s Land Division was in serious problems and has failed to discharge its mandate of fast tracking disposal of land cases for which it was established.

“This is not true,” the Judge told the ‘Sunday News’ in Dar es Salaam in an interview on Friday, just few minutes after officiating to a swearing ceremony of a District Registrar of the High Court, Bukoba Registry Charles Maximillian Magesa. “Generally we have tried our best within limited resources to discharge our obligations at the Land Division.

We know there is a backlog, but does not mean that the judges at the Land Division have not discharged their duties,” he explained. According to the Principal Judge, there were accumulations, say for Dar es Salaam about 2000 cases. But recently upon the appointment of ten judges, he said, judges were placed at the land division and they have done a good job.

He said further that as of now the judges serving at the Land Division of the High Court have disposed of about 1000 cases. Judge Jundu also talked about the need to increase the number of Registrars of the High Court to cater for available needs. He expressed his fear that the presence of 40 registrars countrywide was not enough considering the workload within the Judiciary.

“The Registrar is a key official in all court activities, particularly in conducting of cases. He is the one who keeps timetable of cases, he is the one who issues summonses to the people required to attend hearing of cases and he is the one dealing with other court duties at the Registry level,” he said.

In his part, the new Registrar promised to work tireless to the satisfaction of the people to ensure timely disposal of case, but called for cooperation among all stakeholders. “As the Registrar, my first duty will be to ensure that all those seeking justice are accessed at the required time to restore their confident to the Judiciary.

We have witnessed some other people taking law into their hands, but that could have been avoided had justices sought provided timely,” he said. Registrar Magesa, who was Senior Resident Magistrate in Charge of Arusha Resident Magistrate’s Court before his new appointment, replaces Senior Resident Magistrate Emilius Mchauru, who has been transferred to the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam City.

Source: http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/17323-principal-judge-defends-land-division-court