July 23, 2010 -- Chief Justice Frederick Egonda-Ntende yesterday launched the courts' Strategic Plan and the Seychelles Code of Judicial Conduct, in the presence of Vice-President Danny Faure.

Mr Egonda-Ntende said through the code, judges have committed themselves to deliver judgment in a timely manner as they are expected to under the Constitution.

"In ordinary cases, judgments shall be delivered within 60 days from cessation of hearing. There may be exceptions based on complexity or other acceptable ground in which this period may be exceeded but it should be able to hold for the majority of  cases," explained the Chief Justice.  

He added that action is being taken to end dormant cases.

"In doing so the judges are committing themselves to standards that are capable of precise measurement and which should be able to provide to the parties and their legal advisors a reasonable expectation of when such crucial event in the life of a case may occur," said the chief justice in an interview after the ceremony.

On the Seychelles Code of Judicial Conduct he said: 'The code will provide a checklist or a quick reference tool to the public who may have issues with our conduct as judges making it easier for them to determine whether or not they must lay a complaint about a judge."

He pointed out that some cases are as old as 10 years and it is unfair for the state, which is stronger than accused individuals, to insist that cases go on even when little or no progress seems to be made. The code extends to aspects of the personal lives of judges.