RIYADH: The Shoura Council has given the go-ahead for the Ministry of Justice to introduce a system that will curb the marriage of under-age girls, including forcing marriage officials (Ma'zouni ankiha) to implement any new system. Meanwhile, the Shoura Council approved allocations for new judicial districts and notaries public in the budget of the Ministry of Justice. This will enable the ministry to open and operate courts and judicial circuits. The council's approval comes after it listened to the viewpoints of the Islamic Affairs and Judicial Committee on the annual report of the Ministry of Justice for the fiscal year 2007/2008 (1428/1429H), which was discussed by the council at its previous session. The Shoura Council has indicated it is keen to keep pace with the concerns of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, about the continued development of a fair judiciary. He lauded the King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Project for Developing the Judiciary, which provides financial support and training; and continues to live up to the aspirations of the rulers as a just entity. The council listened to the report of the Security Affairs Committee on the proposal to add three years to the service of officers, who have graduated from universities and have joined the military. The committee discussed retirement issues with a number of military authorities and other related bodies. The committee indicated it benefited from numerous views and observations during the preparation of the report, which was discussed widely. The council discussed the report of the Health Affairs and Environment Committee on patient quality and safety regulations, according to Article 23 of the council's regulations. The draft regulations have five chapters and 22 articles. It aims to set up an independent, specialist professional authority that focuses on highlighting the rights of both health professionals and patients. In a related development, Okaz/Saudi Gazette have learned that the Shoura Council is to ask the King to have three ministers grilled by the council on the performance of their ministries. They include Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah, Minister of Education; Engineer Adel Fakieh, Minister of Labor and Dr. Fahd Balghunaim, Minister of Agriculture. The dates have yet to be decided.
