Solidity and Change Management Paradigm: Key factors for Religious Courts’ progress

 

 Jakarta, Badilag.net/english (4/9/2009).

Two consultants on Capacity Building Impact Studies of AusAid, Geoff Lacey and Wandy Tuturoong, conveyed their high appreciation on significant progress that Religious Courts have made for the past four years of cooperation with IALDF (Indonesia Australia Legal Development Facility).

The two experts visited Badilag’s office Wednesday (2/9/2009) discussing with the Director General of Badilag (Religious Courts Body), Wahyu Widiana, the impacts of mutual cooperation between Badilag and Australia that has been facilitated by IALDF.

When asked about key factors for Religious Courts’ advancement, Wahyu Widiana mentioned two determinant causes; solidity and change management paradigm.

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Religious Courts’ personnel, Wahyu said, were solid. They showed a profound sense of togetherness.

“Solidity, among other things, plays a very important role in advancing an organization. Satisfactory attention and appreciation from top leadership to its staff will further strengthen solidity,” Wahyu said.

“I am glad that Religious Courts’ staffs, either in Jakarta or other regions, are solid.”

Aside from that, Wahyu mentioned the importance of new paradigm of change management in determining success.

“The Supreme Court always encourages the importance of implementing change management paradigm to its lower courts. And this paradigm is indeed critical to employ.”

Since 2005 Religious Courts have benefited from the cooperation with Australia. From seminars held both in Indonesia and Australia, each other's visit for comparative studies and short-courses, joint surveys, to exchanging information and many other activities have proven useful in broadening insight of Religious Courts’ judges and staff.

While arguing that Badilag’s programs were not dependant upon foreign interests, Wahyu acknowledged that cooperation, under MoU signed by Chief Justice, with a foreign country was vital and beneficial.

Another benefit that Religious Courts have adopted from Australia’s court system is the use of Information Technology to assist main tasks of courts’ staff and ensure excellent public services.

“The applications of SIADPA (Religious Court’s Case Management System) for managing cases, SIMPEG (Personnel Management Information System) for personnel affairs and WEBSITE for communication, transparency and human resources enhancement are widely available in almost all Religious Courts and High Religious Courts,” Wahyu said.

Other things such as client service, communication management, change management, justice for the poor and transparency system are obvious results that can be easily found in Religious Courts.

 Judgment Publication

‘Judgment publication’ was spontaneous response Geoff Lacey got when asking Wahyu Widiana what Badilag needed in the near future.

“We are so eager to provide copies of verdicts to justice seekers shortly after the verdicts have been delivered. The verdicts are then to be published on courts’ websites.”

 “And that’s not an easy task to do,” Wahyu added.

Wahyu is however convinced that judgment publication can be soon realized. And if so, Religious Courts will enjoy public confidence, enhanced image and improved quality of verdicts.

“Judges will therefore be much more careful in making judgments since their rulings are open for public and can be read by anyone, anywhere and anytime. And that means judgments must be good,” Wahyu urged.

Religious Court’s cooperation with IALDF for the 2004-2009 periods will end next December. The meeting between Director General of Badilag and Geoff Lacey and Wandy Tuturoong discussed possibilities of an extended collaboration besides figuring out Badilag’s future expectations.

Wahyu expressed his great appreciation for the ongoing reciprocal cooperation between AusAID and the Supreme Court, especially with the Religious Court. (Adli Minfadli Robby/cho)