site.bta10 Judges May Be Punished for Delaying Civil Cases

Sofia, July 5 (BTA) - The Inspectorate of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has proposed to the Judges College at the SJC to impose disciplinary penalties on 10 judges in the civil division of the Sofia Regional Court (SRC). The Inspectorate said in a press release on Wednesday that checks conducted upon alerts from private individuals and lawyers have revealed delays in the handling and finalization of hundreds of civil cases in the SRC.

The cases in question include employment disputes which the law says should be settled very quickly. Other delayed cases are governed by a special law which, too, prescribes for immediate or quick judgment.

The proposed disciplinary penalties are only intended against judges who have systematically failed to meet procedural deadlines and are responsible for action or inaction which has delayed the court process for no valid reason.