Government warns against bill to waive court fees, citing risk of frivolous lawsuits

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

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The government has urged parliamentarians to reconsider a bill proposing the waiver of court fees, warning that it could result in an increase in frivolous lawsuits.

The bill, introduced by Dr. Ali Al Nuaimi, aims to exempt recipients of social support under Law No. 18 of 2006 (concerning social security) and pensioners with monthly incomes below BHD 1,500 from paying court fees.

This proposal pertains to Article 10 of Decree-Law No. 3 of 1972, which governs court fees.

The government explained that current exemptions are granted only to those who can prove their inability to pay, with approval from the Minister of Justice and the cabinet.

The proposed amendment sought to replace this discretionary power with a mandatory exemption for the specified groups. Officials argued that the existing law already provides sufficient flexibility to accommodate cases of financial hardship.

They emphasized that court fees should generally be paid, with exemptions being the exception rather than the rule.

Furthermore, the government expressed concern that removing the financial barrier to filing lawsuits could encourage individuals to pursue claims lacking genuine merit, thereby burdening the court system and wasting state resources.