New Bill on disposal of Court productions: Minister

• Management and disposal of items used as evidence (case goods) in courts    

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

 The government is to introduce a new bill for the management and disposal of items used as evidence (case goods) in courts to dispose of them in a safe and useful manner, Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said.  

The Minister will introduce a Bill to enact provisions by a Parliamentary Act for the management and disposal of items used as evidence in court cases (case productions).  
It was found that a huge economic loss is caused due to insufficient legal provisions existing in regard to the management and disposal of case productions that should be disposed of immediately but due to the lack of a legal framework to dispose them safely on time have made court productions become unutilized and in many cases destroyed at the court premises.  
The economic loss caused by the destruction of valuable goods like vehicles, furniture, food etc. as court productions is also a factor that has led to enact the new piece of legislation.  
Therefore, a committee has been appointed to recommend a new policy and a legal framework including legal provisions and relevant procedures applicable to disposal of case productions that are in the custody of the courts before the trial is over.