Revised Law Speeds Justice for Thousands in BiH
Recently, a 68-year old retiree, residing in Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Federation entity (FBiH), saw her application for pension benefits rejected by the Pension Bureau. Normally, her case would proceed to the Supreme Court where it would languish for more than 5 years before seeing judicial action. However, because of revisions to the Law on Administrative Disputes, her legal challenge to the Bureau’s decision was filed in Cantonal Court where it will be heard before the end of the year. Prior to the revisions, it was not uncommon for cases to outlive the persons who filed them.
USAID’s innovative ALPS (Administrative Law and Procedural Systems) Project in BiH has helped to change the laws in the country so administrative disputes can be more efficiently resolved. As in all countries, administrative disputes in the Federation–-everything from tax appeals to appeals of decisions on medical benefits–-affect huge segments of the population and dwarf in volume both criminal and private civil claims combined. It is in the area of administrative law that ordinary citizens experience the state’s commitment (or not) to the rule of law.
USAID’s ALPS team contributed provisions to the Law on Administrative Disputes that will reduce the time during which parties await resolution of their suits and support reduction in the massive backlog of cases currently on the shelves of its Supreme Court, where such disputes were lodged.
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| Supreme Court President Amir Jaganjac is thankful his Court’s backlog has been reduced from 12,000 to 3,000 cases |
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