'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎134v] (273/610)

234
Post-
lievolution.
W C ts -
Ministry of
Justice.
Law Courts.
After the revolution it was desired to set up Law Courts
on a European pattern and courts were established and a code
drawn up by Mushir-ud-JDauleh between 1909 and 1911.
The Ministry of Justice is divided into 3 main branches.
1. The Minister’s Cabinet and Personnel, which is concerned
with appointments and general administration of the Depart
ment.
2. Of Judicial Affairs, concerned with the supervision of the
administration of Justice, investigation of complaints, etc.
3. Of Judicial Accounts.
The different Law Courts are shown in the following
table:—
1. Supreme Court of Appeal (tamiz) in Tehran.
2. Court of Appeal (Istinaf) in Tehran an
aijan, Tars, k horasan, and Kirman, in
3. Court of First instance. —(Ibtidai)
for Civil and Commercial cases
(Huquq Ye Tijarat) beyond the
jurisdiction of No. 5. These are
instituted in all the principal towns
and the judge is the provincial
“ Chief of Justice.” (Kais-i-Adiiyeh).
the 4 great provinces (Ayalat) of Azarb-
Gilan, and in Hamadan for the West.
4. Criminal Court. —(Jazai, punish
ment) deals with petty offences,
assault, killing (khilaf, Junheh,
Janayat) and can pass the death
sentence. This court is established
in Tehran. In the provinces such
cases often still fall within the juris
diction of provincial governors
and gendarmerie, or they may be
referred to Tehran or a special
court convened.
5. Petty Court (Sulhlyeh). —It deals with minor civil cases to avoid congestion
in Court No. 4, and can inflict a fine up to 250 tumans, and imprisonment up to
1 month. Trivial cases, involving a fine or claim up to 20 tumans, are dealt with
in the Police Stations. “ Sulhiyeh ” have recently been instituted, in some
rural districts, especially in the dependencies of Tehran—a quite useless increase
in expenditure leaving the deputy-Governor, who formerly acted as judge, with
less work than ever.
The personnel of each of these courts consists of one Judge
who tries the case himself and delivers the verdict, with one or
more assistants, secretaries, etc. In the Petty Court, No 5,
besides the Judge there is also an Akhund to settle cases within
the scope of the “ SharV’
In Tehran a ‘ Mudda’i-ul-Umum,’ with the role in some cases
of public prosecutor and in others of public pleader or umpire
functions in the Supreme Court of Appeal, No. 1, and has re
presentatives in other courts. It is his duty to watch the
conduct of all cases in which public interests are concerned.