The Lower House Sunday approved the amended 2017 judiciary independence draft law, the latest judicial reform piece of legislation passed by the lawmakers in parliament’s current extraordinary session.

The MPs recommended that serving and retired judges and their families be covered under article 26 of the health insurance system, equating them with senior officials, including ministers and parliament members and their dependents, who are entitled to full and free healthcare in public and private hospitals and clinics.

Under the bill, heads of the courts of first instance across the Kingdom are eligible for membership in the Judicial Council and only the eldest judge in the Court of Cassation can become a member in the council, not two as was the case. It also sets other procedures for the duration of the council members and its tasks.

The House on Tuesday begins debating the amended penal code bill, the last in the judicial reform package on the agenda of the extraordinary session.

Source: Fana News