South Jakarta District Court Postpones Hearings Amid Judges' Solidarity Leave

JAKARTA, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- The South Jakarta District Court has postponed most hearings for a week, ending this Friday, due to a solidarity leave initiated by the Indonesian Judges’ Solidarity (SHI). The group is advocating for better working conditions, including salary increases and enhanced legal protection for judges.

Approximately 75 per cent of hearings have been rescheduled for next week, with pre-trial matters and verdict readings prioritised due to imminent detention deadlines, according to the news portal Kompas.

Judges not participating in the leave are demonstrating their support by wearing white ribbons during court sessions, aligning themselves with thousands of judges nationwide in this collective action.

In related developments, SHI spokesperson Fauzan Arrasyid has called for a 142 per cent increase in judges’ salaries during a meeting with the Supreme Court.

He referenced a study highlighting the impact of inflation and rising living costs, noting that judges’ salaries have remained stagnant for 12 years.

“The demand from judges across Indonesia is for a 142 per cent increase in their allowances from the levels set in 2012,” Fauzan stated, as quoted by Metro TV.

He also stressed the need to pass the Judicial Bill to protect judges’ status and respect, the Contempt of Court Bill to shield them from disrespect, and better safety measures for judges on duty.

In response, President Joko Widodo, who met at the BNI Investor Daily Summit in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, noted that the issue is still under review by the relevant ministries.

“Everything is still under examination by the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, and the Ministry of Finance,” he said.

-- BERNAMA