Syariah Courts face judge shortage, some handle 30 cases daily

A shortage of Syariah Court judges in Malaysia is limiting the number of cases that can be heard, with some judges having to handle up to 30 cases a day. The Syariah Judiciary Department senior director stated that the shortage necessitates an increase in the number of judges to manage the overall caseload. In Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, judges are struggling to handle a high volume of trials, sometimes needing to manage up to 30 cases daily, with each trial requiring individual attention.

To address alimony claims, the Syariah Courts have implemented measures such as a Special Alimony Division in Kuala Lumpur, staffed by a dedicated judge, and a Special Hadhanah Court at the Syariah High Court, which has added two courtrooms to expedite child custody cases. The Syariah Courts also prioritize the enforcement of alimony orders through the Family Support Division, which helps in the swift implementation of these orders.

However, Selangor Chief Syariah Judge Nenney Shuhaidah Shamsuddin highlighted that the primary constraint in expediting case resolution is the shortage of judges. She noted that various measures have been taken to streamline processes, including digitizing documents, online registration, and reducing paper usage. Despite these efforts, financial constraints have hindered the implementation of further upgrades to court facilities, such as advanced technology systems.

Nenney Shuhaidah emphasized that adding more judges would significantly improve case resolution times, potentially reducing the period to one and a half years. The shortage of judges has led to negative perceptions of the Syariah Courts' performance, with delays often unfairly attributed to court inefficiency rather than the lack of manpower.