Parliament: A Bill to Simplify the Judicial Review Application Process Coming Soon

The Courts (Amendment) Bill will soon be introduced in Parliament. This bill aims to simplify and streamline the process for applying for judicial review by making targeted amendments to the justice courts law. From now on, any request for permission to initiate a judicial review process must be presented inter partes to the judge in chambers, who will decide based on the submitted documents. However, if deemed necessary, the judge may request written submissions on a specific point and, in exceptional circumstances, order an oral hearing in chambers.

The bill also establishes a defined timeframe for the judge to decide on the permission request. If this permission is granted, the initial request will automatically be treated as the judicial review application itself, thereby avoiding duplicate procedures. Several other legislative texts will be amended to align them with the new provisions of the law regarding judicial review. This was announced following the Cabinet meeting held on Friday, November 7, 2025.