The Kuching High Court. Photo source: Kuching Court website
KUCHING: The courts in Sarawak and Sabah are embracing the paperless trend in the bid to be more environmentally friendly.
However, as it is still being implemented, there will be a little resistance to it as advocates will need time to get used to the system, said president of Advocates Association of Sarawak — Ranbir Singh Sangha.
“Courses have and are being conducted to show the advocates how to use the system.
“This will also have a positive impact on the environment – by reducing the carbon footprint as well as reducing costs for the litigants by having to make fewer sets of the Bundles of Documents, Submissions and authorities,” he said in his speech at the Sarawak and Sabah Legal Year function here yesterday.
Similarly, there were amendments to the Rules of Court 2012 with the insertion of specific rule termed ‘Environmental Proceedings’ to curb open burnings which cause the annual haze and destroy Sarawak’s nature reserves.
This was due to the active role played by the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak who is an avid diver and a believer in protecting the environment.
This new rule applies to any environmental claim, cause or matter in civil proceedings before the court involving the application of any law including common law, rule, regulation or policy relating to the environment, conduct or omission of any party which has an effect on the environment including the discretion of the judge to
order for a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (EPO).
This is certainly a progressive and positive step in a journey to safeguard our environment, Ranbir said.
He also said there are over 900 advocates practising law in Sarawak who are subject to Disciplinary Action if complaints are lodged against them.
About 500 of them are in Kuching, and over 400 advocates spread over Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.
“I take this opportunity to inform the public that if there are complaints of misconduct or unethical practice by advocates in Sarawak, the Disciplinary Inquiry Committee is there to give them a fair hearing.
“However, the public should know that we do not entertain oral complaints.
“The forms are available at every bar room in Sarawak. We have received a few oral complaints about touting for road accident cases but we can’t do anything until such time that a formal complaint is filed with the Inquiry Committee.
“I wish to state that the large majority of advocates in Sarawak are managing their respective law practices in an ethical and professional manner and I am sure that the large majority of advocates in Sarawak only wish to maintain the good name of what is a noble profession.”