26/04/2023
By Hα΄Ι΄. α΄ΙͺΚα΄ Ι΄ΙͺΙ΄ΙͺΙ΄Ι’Ιͺ, ΚΚΚ, α΄α΄
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As the Minister responsible for Justice Administration in Papua New Guinea, it gives me great pleasure to announce that the National Executive Council has approved a submission by my Ministry to restructure the Higher Court System of Papua New Guinea. This submission has been made for and on behalf of the Judiciary under the leadership of the Chief Justice, Sir Gibbs Salika. This is an historic reform to the countryβs legal and justice system, and the first of its kind to be made specifically to Papua New Guineaβs Higher Court System. Therefore, I wish to commend the Marape-Rosso government for its wisdom in supporting significant reforms in the law and justice sector such as this which is aimed at improving access and the delivery of justice.
Section 155 of the Constitution provides for the βNational Judicial Systemβ of Papua New Guinea and makes reference to the Supreme and National Court as the Courts that comprise the Higher Court System of Papua New Guinea. Under the NEC Decision, the Department of Justice & Attorney-General is directed to develop drafting instructions for a Bill to amend Section 155 of the Constitution and establish another level of the High Court System to be called the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal will now become an intermediate Court between the National and Supreme Court. Therefore creating a three-tier Higher Court System.
Besides a principal amendment to Section 155 of the Constitution, there will be consequential amendments to relevant provisions of the Constitution that make reference to βNational Judicial Systemβ. There will also be an Act of Parliament proposed to cater for the Court of Appeal as well as other subsidiary legislation, practice and procedure