‘Judge Choudry was not made redundant’
Jul 26, 2009
JUDGE Anup Singh Choudry’s posting to the War Crimes division does not make him redundant, the judiciary spokesperson has said.
By Andante Okanya
JUDGE Anup Singh Choudry’s posting to the War Crimes division does not make him redundant, the judiciary spokesperson has said.
Erias Kisawuzi said Choudry’s transfer from the Commercial Court, where he was not allocated cases for the eight weeks he spent there, did not mean he was rendered redundant.
This follows recent administrative changes by the Principal Judge, James Ogoola, which saw a number of judges moved.
When asked last Wednesday why Choudry had been posted to a court that was yet to hear a case since it was set up last year, Kisawuzi said: “People should not look for gaps where they do not exist. These transfers are normal in the judiciary, and the War Crimes Court is working, so Judge Choudry will work.â€
He dismissed allegations that Choudry’s transfer was meant to give him a ‘soft landing’.
Two months ago, the judge had a bitter argument with some city lawyers, who vowed to boycott his court.
The Uganda Law Society petitioned the Judicial Service Commission to rescind Choudry’s appointment, saying he had a tainted record.
The petition came after the lawyers acquired information that Choudry had been struck off the list of solicitors in the UK in 2000 over fraudulent dealings.
Kisawuzi said the judge’s failure to hear cases was not a problem, adding that there were mechanisms to deal with it.
“His transfer will not create a backlog. Other judges will take his cases. The cases which are part heard should ordinarily be completed. We hope this will be done in a period of one month,†he added.
The War Crimes Court was set up to deal with cases of human rights violations committed during the 20-year LRA insurgency in the north.
JUDGE Anup Singh Choudry’s posting to the War Crimes division does not make him redundant, the judiciary spokesperson has said.
Erias Kisawuzi said Choudry’s transfer from the Commercial Court, where he was not allocated cases for the eight weeks he spent there, did not mean he was rendered redundant.
This follows recent administrative changes by the Principal Judge, James Ogoola, which saw a number of judges moved.
When asked last Wednesday why Choudry had been posted to a court that was yet to hear a case since it was set up last year, Kisawuzi said: “People should not look for gaps where they do not exist. These transfers are normal in the judiciary, and the War Crimes Court is working, so Judge Choudry will work.â€
He dismissed allegations that Choudry’s transfer was meant to give him a ‘soft landing’.
Two months ago, the judge had a bitter argument with some city lawyers, who vowed to boycott his court.
The Uganda Law Society petitioned the Judicial Service Commission to rescind Choudry’s appointment, saying he had a tainted record.
The petition came after the lawyers acquired information that Choudry had been struck off the list of solicitors in the UK in 2000 over fraudulent dealings.
Kisawuzi said the judge’s failure to hear cases was not a problem, adding that there were mechanisms to deal with it.
“His transfer will not create a backlog. Other judges will take his cases. The cases which are part heard should ordinarily be completed. We hope this will be done in a period of one month,†he added.
The War Crimes Court was set up to deal with cases of human rights violations committed during the 20-year LRA insurgency in the north.