Page 439 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

p

39

JUDICIAL
(From the Report of Mr. Salim A1 Arayadh, Superintendent of the Judicial Department)
The number of new eases of all kinds filed in the Senior Court during the year was 913,
last year there were 857 eases. Of these eases 284 were civil claims, many of them being
disputes over boundaries and water rights, 256 were applications for land registrations, which
come up before the courts after the usual procedure by the Land Department has been completed
and 373 were criminal cases, a high proportion of them being contraventions of traffic rules and
minor disdemeanours such as domestic squabbles involving abuse and sometimes mild assault.
Many of these eases are a waste of the Court’s time but if the Police do not produce them the
public complain that they arc debarred from their rights. At one time trivial affairs were
settled out of court, now, if there is a quarrel among women or between youths, both parties
hurry to the nearest Police Station in order to file a case. There were no important civil cases
but one murder case was heard; it is referred to in the Police Report.
The magistrates of the Senior Court, which in fact consists of two courts, each one presided
over by a magistrate sitting separately on four days a week and jointly on one day, disposed of
946 eases, including some cases from the previous year. At the end of the year 157 cases
remained.
Fines amounted to Rs. 8,272/- and court fees amounting to Rs. 33,512/- were received.
Court fees were less than in the previous year but more fines were imposed.
The Small Courts dealt with 1,741 cases as against 1,591 in 1370. In addition to the new
cases, orders were passed for 484 executions of orders and decrees previously passed.

From 9th Shabaan 1371 (3rd May, 1952) the Bahrain Courts had jurisdiction over nationals
of Yemen, Muscat, Trucial Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. An estimate of the
additional work in which the Courts will be involved cannot be made until the new arrangement
has been in force for a longer period.

The Sunni and Shia Shera Courts dealt with 306 and 156 cases respectively. The Majlis
Tajara disposed of 51 cases and at the end of the year there were 57 pending cases. The Majlis
is very dilatory and frequently very few of the members put in an appearance. As, however,
the members are leading merchants and busy men, who give their services without remuneration,
it is impossible to deal with them drastically. When members resign it is difficult to replace
them.

The Shia Appeal Kadi heard and disposed of ten cases, the Junior Appeal Court dealt with
21 out of 25 appeals and the Senior Appeal Court disposed of 24 out of 26 appeals. Most of
these appeals were cases about immovable property. Because the value of land is now so high
many people are making claims for ground which they would not have been interested in a few
years ago.

POLICE AND PUBLIC SECURITY

(From the Report of Shaikh Khalifah bin Mohamed al Khalifah, Superintendent, State Police)
Strength.—The strength of the Police and the Natur Force at the end of the year was as
follows :—
Police.— Superintendent 1
Officers 6
N.C.O’s and Men 283
Followers, Clerks, Boat Crews, etc 46
Armed Naturs 254