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ADMINISTRATIVECIRCULARNO.7A92June21,1993

ADMINISTRATIVECIRCULARNO.7A92June21,1993

TO: THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS, SHARI'A DISTRICT COURTS, METROPOLITAN TRIAL
COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL
CIRCUITTRIALCOURTS,ANDSHARI'ACIRCUITCOURTS

SUBJECT:GUIDELINESINTHEARCHIVINGOFCASES

AdministrativeCircularNo.792,datedOctober12,1992,isherebyamendedtoreadasfollows:

The attention of the Court has been called to the lack of uniformity in the policies adopted by the individual
judgeswithrespecttothearchivingcases.Therearelikewisereportsofindiscriminatearchivingofcaseswithout
apparentjustifiablereason.Thefollowingguidelinesarethereforeestablishedinthearchivingofcases:

I.CRIMINALCASES

a) A criminal case may be archived only if after the issuance of the warrant of arrest, the accused remains at
largeforsix(6)monthsfromthedeliveryofthewarranttotheproperpeaceofficer.Anorderarchivingthecase
shallrequirethepeaceofficertoexplainwhytheaccusedwasnotapprehended.Thecourtshallissueanaliasif
theoriginalwarrantofarrestisreturnedbythepeaceofficertogetherwiththereport.

b)Thecourt,motupropriooruponmotionofanyparty,maylikewisearchiveacriminalcasewhenproceedings
thereinareorderedsuspendedforanindefiniteperiodbecause:

1) the accused appears to be suffering from an unsound mental condition which effectively renders him unable to fully
understand the charge against him and to plead intelligently, or to undergo trial, and he has to be committed to a mental
hospital

2)avalidprejudicialquestioninacivilactionisinvokedduringthependencyofthecriminalcaseunlessthecivilandthe
criminalcasesareconsolidated

3) an interlocutory order or incident in the criminal case is elevated to, and is pending resolution/decision for an indefinite
periodbeforeahighercourtwhichhasissuedatemporaryrestrainingorderorwritofpreliminaryinjunctionand

4)whentheaccusedhasjumpedbailbeforearraignmentandcannotbearrestedbyhisbondsmen.

II.CIVILCASES

Incivilcases,thecourtmaymotupropriooruponmotion,orderthatacivilcasebearchivedonlyinthefollowing
instances:

a) When the parties are in the process of settlement, in which case the proceedings may be suspended and the case
archivedforaperiodnotexceedingninety(90)days.Thecaseshallbeincludedinthetrialcalendaronthedayimmediately
followingthelapseofthesuspensionperiod.

b)Whenaninterlocutoryorderorincidentinthecivilcaseiselevatedto,andispendingresolution/decisionforanindefinite
periodbeforeahighercourtwhichhasissuedatemporaryrestrainingorderorwritofpreliminaryinjunction.

c)Whendefendant,withoutfaultorneglectofplaintiff,cannotbeservedwithsummonswithinsix(6)monthsfromissuance
oforiginalsummons.

GENERALPROVISIONS

a)CopiesoftheOrderarchivingthecaseshallbefurnishedtheparties.

b)Aspecialdocketshallbemaintainedtorecordthecasesbothcriminalandcivilthathavebeenarchived.

c)AperiodicreviewofthearchivedcasesshallbemadebythePresidingJudge.

d)ThePresidingJudgeshall,motupropiooruponmotionbyanyparty,orderthereinstatement/revivalofanarchivedcase
anditswithdrawalfromthearchiveswheneverthesameisreadyfortrialorfurtherproceedings.

e)TheBranchClerkofCourtshallsubmittotheOfficeoftheCourtAdministratoraconsolidatedlistofarchivedcasesnot
laterthanthefirstweekofJanuaryofeveryyear.

StrictcompliancewiththisAdministrativeCircularisherebyenjoined.

June21,1993.
(Sgd.)ANDRESR.NARVASA
ChiefJustice
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