Final Coordination Meeting: Meeting to amend Union Judiciary Law held

The final coordination meeting regarding the draft law to amend the Union Judiciary Law for the fifth time was held on January 5 at the meeting hall of the Office of the Ministry of Legal Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw.

At the meeting, after the Union Minister for Legal Affairs and the Union Attorney General Dr. Thida Oo delivered opening remarks, Justice of the Supreme Court of the Union Daw Thin Thin Nwet explained the discussions. She stated that according to Section 23(c)(2) of the Union Judiciary Law, judges are required to take an oath or affirmation at the beginning of each court session. However, in practice, this is not an absolutely necessary procedure.

Furthermore, internationally, there is no established rule requiring an oath or affirmation to be taken at the start of each daily court session. Since courts are permanently established institutions, removing the provision requiring an oath or affirmation at the beginning of each court session would expedite daily judicial tasks. This is the reason for proposing to amend the Union Judiciary Law.

The Union Minister and the Union Attorney General noted that the Union Judiciary Law already stipulates that judges must take an oath or affirmation when they are first appointed. They also considered that even if Section 23(c)(2) of the Union Judiciary Law were repealed, judicial functions could continue normally. Therefore, they concluded that the amendment is appropriate and proceeded with final coordination discussions for the enactment of the law.