Cate Sumner:

Three Services Needed by Most Court Clients

SERIOUS TALKING: Cate Sumner (left) seriously talking with DG of Badilag Wahyu Widiana and Executive Adviser of FCoA Leisha Lister.

Jakarta | badilag.net/english

Thousands of court clients interviewed in a research conducted by AusAID and NGO PEKKA recently said they need at least three things that religious courts should clarify in terms of public service.

Cate Sumner, Adviser of IAJPT-AusAID, made this statement when visiting East Jakarta Religious Court on Thursday afternoon (22/7/2010). Cate visited the court with her Australian colleague, Anne Wallace from University of Canberra.

“First, they need clarity on court fees that should be paid to the courts. The use and the details of court fees should be made clear. The courts should also clarify if the clients can refund the balance (if any) of court fees they pay when filing their cases,” Cate said.

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Court fee is the main problem for the poor to access to court besides transportation costs. The clarity of court fees and its return of the balance will help and encourage them to resolve their family legal problems to the religious courts.

“Another thing that the court clients require is clear information from the court stating that poor people can process their cases in the court free of charge,” she said. People need to know how to file their case if they can not afford the court fees.

The other thing is about the delivery of court decision and divorce certificate. “It would be very good ff people can obtain copy of court decision along with divorce certificate on the final hearing,” Cate Sumner said.

Poor people will be very much assisted if they can get the verdicts on the final hearing because they do not need to return to the court, which is always costly for them, Cate added. (c)