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High Court Act 1875

High Court Rules 1988

Crimes Act 2009

Criminal Procedure Act 2009

Sentencing and Penalties Act 2009

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Fees

The High Court Registry is responsible for the safe custody and safekeeping of Court records; collecting and accounting for all fees received by the Court; and all aspects of proceedings and appeals.

The Principal Registry of the High Court of Fiji is situated at the Government Building in Suva. The divisional offices of the Registry are in Lautoka and Labasa.

BUSINESS HOURS:

Mondays – Thursdays: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Fridays: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (except for Public Holidays)

CONTACT DETAILS:

SUVA

Government Buildings, Victoria Parade, Suva
PO BOX 2215 Government Bldgs, Suva

CR’S OFFICE SUVA

Chief Registrar – CR’s PA: +679 3211482

Deputy Registrar – DR’s Legal: +679 3211353 / krishan.prasad@live.com / krishan.prasad@judicial.gov.fj

Deputy Registrar – DR’s PA: +679 3211893

Senior Court Officer II: +679 3211337 / +679 9922162

Court Officer: +679 3211261 / +679 9922162

Court Clerks: +679 3211241

Support Staff: +679 3211235

High Court Criminal Registry: hccrimsuva.judiciaryfiji@gmail.com

LAUTOKA

Tavewa Avenue, Lautoka
PO BOX 388, High Court, Lautoka

Lautoka High Court Registry

Deputy Registral (Legal): +679 666 0969 / +6799487758 / jkotovulalima@judicial.gov.fj

Senior Court Officer I: +679 666 0887 / +679 9922304

General Enquiries: +679 666 0877 / +679 9922304

Lautoka High Court Registry: ltkahighct.judiciaryfiji@gmail.com

Library
Librarian: +679 666 0647

LABASA

Katonivere Complex, Opposite Macuata House, Siberia Road, Labasa
PO BOX 56, High Court, Labasa

Labasa High Court Registry

Deputy Registrar (Legal): +679 8811772 / +679 9489683 / ashwin.kumar@judicial.gov.fj 

Senior Court Officer II: +679 881 1531 / +679 8308924

General Enquiries/Support Staff: +679 881 1772 / +679 8308924

Email: labasa.judiciaryfiji@gmail.com

CONTACT THE HIGH COURT CRIMINAL REGISTRY ONLINE:

The High Court has unlimited original jurisdiction to hear and determine any civil and criminal proceedings under any law and such other original jurisdiction as is conferred on it under the Constitution or any written law.

High Court Criminal is governed by the Crimes Act 2009, Criminal procedure Act 2009, Sentencing and Penalties Act 2009, Domestic Violence Act 2009 and all other valid laws of Fiji.

All criminal cases, whether indictable (serious) or summary (non-serious) start in the Magistrate Courts. By virtue of section 4(1) (a) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009, all indictable offences are triable only in the High Court, for example, murder, treason, manslaughter, genocide, crime against humanity, rape, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary. Criminal trials in the High Court are conducted by the Judge being aided by a panel of 2 to 5 assessors. Assessors function like a jury, but the Judge have the final say whether or not an accused is guilty.

The High Court also hears any criminal appeals against any order, judgment or sentence by the Magistrate Court. It may also determine a question of law from the Magistrate Court via a case stated. In its supervisory role, the High Court, upon the Honourable Chief Justice’s approval/directive/report, may call for any record of any Magistrate Court Criminal proceeding to satisfy itself that any order, finding or sentence had been done in accordance with the law, and it may confirm, reverse, vary or make any other order, to do justice to the case.

In the criminal division of the High Court, there are four (4) major jurisdictions:

• Criminal Jurisdiction
• Appellate Jurisdiction
• Miscellaneous Jurisdiction
• Revisional Jurisdiction

Criminal Jurisdiction

All indictable criminal offences are transferred from the Magistrate Court for trial in the High Court. Some indictable offences are triable summarily, and on these types of cases, the accused chooses a High Court or Magistrate Court trial. If he chooses a High Court trial, the case remains in the High Court. The Director of Public Prosecution’s Office furthers the proceedings by filing Information and Disclosures and trial is conducted in the presence of Assessors. Upon finding of guilt of an accused person, the High Court may pass a sentence that is authorized by the Sentencing and Penalties Act 2009, and/or other written laws.

Miscellaneous Jurisdiction

This jurisdiction caters for the following applications; E.g. Bail application, an application for stay of proceedings, leave to appeal out of time, extradition, etc. Applicants are required to file their respective applications by way of Motion and Affidavit or by filing prescribed forms.

Appellate Jurisdiction

Cases for appeal from the Magistrate Court are filed under this jurisdiction; 28 days is given by the subordinate court to file an appeal to High Court; Appeals are filed against the decision of the lower court; Appellants are to file Petition of Appeal at the Magistrates’ Court for preparation of Court Records and determination of appeal.

Revisional Jurisdiction

A defining feature of this jurisdiction is that the Courts are vested with power (under section 260 and 262 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009) to revise the decision of the subordinate court upon the Honourable Chief Justice’s approval/directive/report, as mentioned above. This can be done on the basis of similar grounds for appeal or where a miscarriage of Justice is suspected.