"Exit Remains A Dignified Option" If You Fail To Deliver Timely Written Judgments, CJ Warns

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Chief Justice Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh has emphasised that delivering written judgments is a fundamental judicial duty, cautioning that delays in providing grounds of judgment undermine both the administration of justice and the right of litigants to appeal.

He said the obligation to give reasoned decisions enables all parties, especially those dissatisfied with an outcome, to understand the basis of a ruling and, where applicable, to exercise their right of appeal effectively.

Wan Ahmad Farid added that for the benefit of the public awaiting judicial outcomes, the judiciary cannot allow the machinery of justice to become obstructed.

“To put it bluntly, the kitchen is open, but the service must be timely. If the heat is no longer to your liking, the exit remains a dignified option,” he said in his speech at the Opening of Legal Year 2026, here today.

Later, during a press conference, when asked whether the phrase "exit remains a dignified option" referred to stepping down or resigning, Wan Ahmad Farid responded that it could be interpreted that way.

He acknowledged the frustration of litigants who wish to file an appeal, only to find that despite a decision being delivered long ago, the written grounds of judgment were not prepared within the stipulated eight-week timeframe.

To address the issue, he explained that the Judicial Academy would first adopt a supportive approach by seeking to understand the challenges judges face, rather than imposing immediate penalties.

However, he expressed concern over the growing number of outstanding, unwritten judgments at the High Courts.

Quoting former Lord President Tun Mohamed Suffian Hashim, who emphasised that a judge's duty is to dispense justice without fear or favour, Wan Ahmad Farid added that justice must also be delivered without undue delay.

“A judge who carries a backlog of 10 or more outstanding grounds of judgment is carrying a heavy burden, not just for the system, but on their own conscience. You know who you are,” he said.

While judges who are facing challenges will continue to be supported, Wan Ahmad Farid stressed that such support has its limits.

“The bench is a place for those who can stand the heat of the fire. I have to be fair to litigants. I have to be fair to the Court of Appeal judges who cannot proceed with appeals simply because the grounds of the High Courts are not available,” he said.

Addressing the statistics, Wan Ahmad Farid noted that between 2021 and November 2025, registrations for criminal cases rose from 1,522,005 to 2,486,567, an increase of 63.37 per cent.

In the same period, he said, civil case registrations grew from 303,335 to 483,933, representing a rise of 59.54 per cent.

“These figures reflect a structural trend rather than a temporary surge. Looking at it positively, a more litigious society is a society that has faith in its judiciary.

“Despite these mounting pressures, judges and judicial officers at all levels continue to discharge their duties with professionalism, diligence, and commitment - trying their level best to ensure that cases are resolved within prescribed timelines. 

“However, it must be said with candour, that efficiency cannot be sustained indefinitely without commensurate institutional support. There is a natural limit to how much additional workload can be absorbed without affecting well-being and quality of decision-making,” he said. 

-- BERNAMA