Cabinet Approves Gazetting and Submission to Parliament of Key Judicial Reform Bills
Following initial Cabinet approval on July 27, 2026, approval has been granted to publish the Twenty-second Constitutional Amendment Bill and the Judiciary (Amendment) Bill in the Government Gazette and subsequently submit them to Parliament.
Drafted by the Legal Draftsman and granted constitutional clearance by the Attorney General, the proposed legislation submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration aims to reinforce the independence of the judiciary and accelerate procedures to clear the accumulated judicial backlog.
The move, however, has sparked significant pushback across legal circles, with both the BASL and international regional bodies like LAWASIA expressing deep concern. Legal experts warn that altering fixed judicial tenures risks damaging public trust, compromising judicial independence, and setting a problematic precedent for ad hoc constitutional modifications.
Related:
BASL Unanimously Passes Resolution Against Proposed Judges’ Retirement Age Amendment
Cabinet Approves Move to Raise Judges’ Retirement Age as Part of Judicial Reform Package