Missing court files from registry a concern

By MICHELLE YIPRUKAMAN
THE regular occurrence of missing court files from the registry is a concern for National and Supreme Court Registrar Ian Augerea.
Mr Augerea told The National that missing files were a problem in the past.
“However, improved processes to guide the movement of files have lessen the problem,” he said.
Mr Augerea said the main problem was that files were misplaced or taken with proper process not followed.
The missing files issue came to the fore when it was learned on Wednesday that the case involving the Department of Personnel Management Secretary Margaret Elias and Public Services Minister Sinai Brown could not proceed because the court file was missing from the National Court Registry.
Joseph Koi, counsel for Ms Elias, told Justice Catharine Davani that the file had been missing since Feb 9 and he was informed about it when he enquired at the Registry about the file on Wednesday.
Mr Koi was supposed to have made an application for leave the same day (Wednesday) for a judicial review into the National Executive Council decision for his client’s suspension.
However, this could not eventuate because of the missing file.
Mr Koi told the court that the file went missing a day after the court granted interim orders staying the NEC decision to suspend Ms Elias on Jan 25.
Justice Davani told parties to conduct a thorough check at the registry to locate the original court file.
“If you are not able to locate the file then a duplicate file must be made by Friday (today) in order for the court to proceed with the matter,” Justice Davani said.

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