Annual Report Judiciary 2015

Republic of Mauritius
ANNUAL REPORT
OF
THE JUDICIARY
2015
June 2016
ANNUAL REPORT
OF
THE JUDICIARY
2015
JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT

Year 2015
CHIEF JUSTICE
Honourable Kheshoe Parsad MATADEEN

SENIOR PUISNE JUDGE
Honourable Marc France Eddy BALANCY

PUISNE JUDGES
1. Honourable Paul LAM SHANG LEEN (retired on 04 July 2015)
2. Honourable Shaheda PEEROO
3. Honourable Ah Foon CHUI YEW CHEONG
4. Honourable Asraf Ally CAUNHYE
5. Honourable Abdurrafeek HAMUTH
6. Honourable Hima Nalini MATADEEN
7. Honourable Joseph Grard ANGOH
8. Honourable Bibi Rehana MUNGLY-GULBUL
9. Honourable Abdul Razack HAJEE ABDOULA
10. Honourable Deviyanee BEESOONDOYAL
11. Honourable Nirmala DEVAT
12. Honourable David CHAN KAN CHEONG
13. Honourable Rita TEELOCK
14. Honourable Prithviraj FEKNA
15. Honourable J Benjamin G MARIE JOSEPH
16. Honourable Oomeshwarnath BENY MADHUB
17. Honourable Aruna Devi NARAIN
18. Honourable Mohammad Iqbal MAGHOOA
19. Honourable Gaitree JUGESSUR-MANNA
The Supreme Court Organisation Chart

Chief Justice
Senior Puisne Judge
Puisne Judges
Judicial Officers
Master
& Registrar
Deputy Master & Registrar
ii
Administrative
& Technical
Officers
Secretary to the Chief Justice
Chief Registrar
Deputy Chief Registrar
Senior
Registrar/
Regional Court
Administrator
Senior
Registrar/
Regional Court
Administrator
Chief Court
Officer/Court
Manager
Chief Court
Officer/Court
Manager
Chief Court
Officer/Court
Manager
Chief Court
Officer/Court
Manager
Principal Court
Officer
Internal Control
Unit
Registry
Masters
Office
Commercial
Division
Family
Division
Secretary to
Judges Office
Mediation
Division
Chief
Court Usher
Senior
Court
Officer
Manager
Human
Resources
Manager
Financial
Operations
Senior
Systems
Analyst
Senior
Librarian
Senior
Transcriber
Statistician
Court
Ushers
Office
Legal Aid
Unit
Human
Resource
Unit
Finance
Unit
Information
Services
Section
Library
Transcription
Unit
Statistics
Unit
CONTENTS
Page
The Judiciary
1-8
HIGHLIGHTS & TABLES
Supreme Court
9 & 10
1.1 - All cases at the Supreme Court, 2012 - 2015
11
1.2 - Cases at the Criminal Division of the Supreme Court (Assizes), 2012 - 2015
12
1.3 - Offences disposed of by type of offence at the Criminal Division of the

Supreme Court (Assizes), 2012 - 2015
1.3a - Offences disposed of by type of offence and outcome of judgment at the
Criminal Division of the Supreme Court (Assizes), 2012 - 2015
12
13
1.4 - Appellate Jurisdiction at the Supreme Court, 2012 - 2015
14
1.5 - Civil cases at the Supreme Court, 2012 - 2015
15
1.6 - Divorce cases, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015
17
1.7 - Divorces/Judicial separations pronounced by number of children involved in

the marriage, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015
1.8 - Divorces pronounced by petitioning parties and grounds, Republic of
Mauritius, 2012 - 2015
1.9 - Divorces/Judicial separations pronounced by duration of marriage (years),
Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015
1.10 - Civil cases at the Mediation Division of the Supreme Court, 2012 - 2015
Intermediate Court
2.1 - Civil and criminal cases at the Intermediate Court, 2012 - 2015
Industrial Court
3.1 - Civil and criminal cases at the Industrial Court, 2012 - 2015
Bail & Remand Court and Weekend Court
18
18
19
20
21
21
22
22
23
4.1 - Cases at the Bail & Remand Court (BRC), 2014 & 2015
23
5.1 - Cases at the Weekend Court, 2014 & 2015
23
District Courts
24
6.1 - Civil and criminal cases at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015
25
6.2 - Criminal cases at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015
26
6.3 - Civil cases at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015
27
6.4 - Plaint with summons (civil) cases at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015
28
6.5 - Small Claim Procedure at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015
28
6.6 - State debts cases at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015
29
Cases under the Protection from Domestic Violence Act 1997 at the
District Courts, 2012 - 2015
6.8 - Breakdown by type of Orders under the Protection from Domestic Violence
Act 1997 at the District Courts, 2014 & 2015
6.9 - Breakdown of Protection Orders under the Protection from Domestic Violence
Act 1997 at the District Courts, 2014 & 2015
6.10 - Breakdown by sex of Protection Orders under the Protection from Domestic
Violence Act 1997 at the District Courts, 2015
6.7 -
Cases (civil and criminal) in the Republic of Mauritius
29
30
31
32
34
7.1 - Total cases, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015
35
7.2 - Total criminal cases, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015
36
7.3 - Total civil cases, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015
37
Crime Statistics
8.1 - Criminal offences disposed of according to United Nations classification of
offences (broad categories), Republic of Mauritius, 2014 & 2015
8.2 - Criminal offences disposed of by courts and outcome of judgment,
Republic of Mauritius, 2014 & 2015
8.3 - Convicted offences according to United Nations classification of offences,
8.4 - Convicted offences by court and according to United Nations classification of
offences (broad categories), Republic of Mauritius, 2015
8.5 - Drug offences convicted by type, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015
The Legal Aid Unit and Revenue and Expenditure of the Judiciary
9.1 - Legal aid assistance - applications received, services granted and amount paid Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015
10.1 - Revenue collected from courts, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2014 & January
to June 2015
10.2 - Expenditure of the Judiciary, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2014 & January
to June 2015
39
40
41
43 - 47
48
49
50
51
51
51
Staff of the Judiciary and court rooms

11.1 - Staff of the Judiciary, Republic of Mauritius, 2014 & 2015
52
11.2 - Court rooms by type of court, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015
53
Private Legal Practitioners

11.3 - Private legal practitioners (practicing Barristers, Attorneys and Notaries),
53
FIGURES
Supreme Court
1.5a - Cases lodged at the Supreme Court, 2014 & 2015
16
1.5b - Cases disposed of at the Supreme Court, 2014 & 2015
16
1.9 - Divorces/Judicial separations pronounced by duration of marriage (years),

Republic of Mauritius, 2015
19
District Courts
6.1a - Total cases lodged, disposed of and outstanding at the District Courts,
33
6.1b - Civil and criminal cases disposed of by District Courts, 2014 & 2015
33
Cases (civil and criminal) in the Republic of Mauritius

7.1 - Total cases lodged, disposed of and outstanding, Republic of Mauritius,
2014 & 2015
7.2 - Total criminal cases lodged, disposed of and outstanding,
7.3 - Total civil cases lodged, disposed of and outstanding, Republic of Mauritius,
2014 & 2015
38
38
38
Crime Statistics
8.2 - Summary of criminal offences disposed of, Republic of Mauritius, 2015
ANNEXES
I
Supreme Court Library and Information Service
II
Glossary of terms
42
1.
THE JUDICIARY
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The Judiciary is one of the three pillars of our sovereign democratic State. By virtue of the
Constitution The Judiciary is vested with the power to administer justice in the Republic of
Mauritius. In line with the Constitution which makes provision for an independent Judiciary
based on the concept of separation of powers, the Judiciary of Mauritius is independent of the
other two organs of the State - the Executive and the Legislature.
The independence of our Judiciary, apart from being vital for the functioning of our
democratic system of government, empowers our Courts to uphold the Rule of Law and to
act as Guardians of the Fundamental Rights entrenched in our Constitution, and to ensure and
enforce good governance. The Chief Justice is the Head of the Judiciary.
1.2 VISION & MISSION STATEMENTS OF THE JUDICIARY

Vision Statement - To develop a Justice System which is recognized as a national
and international model of excellence
Mission Statement - To maintain an impartial and efficient Justice System that
upholds the Rule of Law and that provides a modern, easy and fast access to justice to
all users
1.3 STRATEGIC DIRECTION, KEY ACTIONS AND HUMAN RESOURCE

ALLOCATION
1.3.1
Strategic direction
Upgrade all District Court premises which deal with the bulk of court cases in order to
improve services to all stakeholders.
Expedite determination of court cases with the co-operation of all major stakeholders.
Reinforce special witness schemes to provide facilities to special categories of witnesses in
Court.
Develop and implement best practices in case flow management systems in order to improve
services to all users.
Promote continuous professional development for all Court personnel at the Institute for
Judicial and Legal Studies.
1.3.2
Key Actions for 2015/2016
Set up a separate Court of Appeal Section and a separate High Court Section of the Supreme
Court to improve public perception of independence and objectivity in dispensing justice and
to streamline appeal cases.
Upgrade the digital and audio recording systems at the Supreme Court.
Upgrade the infrastructure of the Supreme Court and the District Courts of Grand Port, Flacq
and Upper Plaines Wilhems.
Revamp the Court video conferencing system.
Revamp the Supreme Court Library.
1.3.3
Human Resource Allocation
The Judiciary has 703 funded positions for 2015/2016.
1.4
JUDICIAL SYSTEM
Mauritius has a single-structured judicial system consisting of two tiers - the Supreme Court
and subordinate courts. The Supreme Court is composed of various Divisions exercising
jurisdiction such as the Masters Court, the Family Division, the Commercial Division, the
Criminal Division, the Mediation Division, the Court of First Instance in civil and criminal
proceedings, the Appellate jurisdiction (to hear and determine civil & criminal appeals from
decisions of the subordinate courts), the Court of Civil Appeal and the Court of Criminal
Appeal (to hear and determine appeals from decisions of the Supreme Court sitting in the
exercise of its original jurisdiction in civil matters and in criminal matters). Subordinate
courts consist of the Intermediate Court, the Industrial Court, the District Courts, the Bail and
Remand Court and the Court of Rodrigues.
1.5 SUPREME COURT

The Supreme Court is composed of the Chief Justice, the Senior Puisne Judge and nineteen
Puisne Judges. It is a superior Court of Record and has unlimited jurisdiction to hear and
determine any civil and criminal proceedings. It has a similar original jurisdiction as the High
Court of England and is vested with the necessary powers and authority to exercise its
jurisdiction as a Court of Equity. The Supreme Court also exercises supervisory jurisdiction
over subordinate courts in order to ensure that justice is duly delivered by such courts. The
Supreme Court has the sole power to determine whether any provision of the Constitution
has been contravened, including the power to determine whether any law enacted by
Parliament is void on the ground that it contravenes the provisions of the Constitution.
1.5.1
Judicial Conduct, Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC)
The JLSC established under the Constitution is chaired by the Honourable Chief Justice and
is responsible for the appointment and promotion of Judicial and Legal Officers, together
with the power to exercise disciplinary control over them.
1.5.2
Civil Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court as Court of first instance
The Supreme Court hears and determines:

i. any civil matter, although it will generally entertain and hear claims where the matter
in dispute is of a value which is more than Rs 500,000;
ii. divorce and matrimonial proceedings;
iii. petitions for insolvency, and all matters of a commercial nature;
iv. admiralty matters and
v. claims for Constitutional relief
All civil proceedings are heard and determined by a single Judge, unless otherwise provided
for under any written law, or as may be decided by the Chief Justice, having regard to the
interests at stake, or to the importance or intricacy of the questions of fact or law to be
determined.
The Supreme Court, in the exercise of its civil jurisdiction, has power and jurisdiction to hear
and determine any complaint of a disciplinary nature, brought up by any of the authorities or
bodies exercising powers of supervision over the professional conduct of law practitioners or
ministerial officers.
(a) The Family Division of the Supreme Court
The Family Division of the Supreme Court was set up administratively in January 2008. It
exercises jurisdiction in any matter under the Divorce and Judicial Separation Act or under
any other enactment which relates to alimony, maintenance, or the custody or guardianship
of minors, other than a matter which is under an enactment within the exclusive jurisdiction
of a Magistrate. Two Puisne Judges, designated by the Chief Justice, are posted in the Family
Division.
(b) The Commercial Division of the Supreme Court
The Commercial Division of the Supreme Court was set up administratively in 2009. Two
Puisne Judges designated by the Chief Justice sit in that division. It entertains, hears and
determines matters arising under the Insolvency Act 2009 and the Companies Act, disputes
relating to banking, bills of exchange, offshore business, patents and trademarks or passing
off, disputes between traders and related matters, and generally deals with anything which is
of a commercial nature.
(c) Masters Court
The Masters Court is presided by the Master and Registrar and the Deputy Master &
Registrar. It exercises the jurisdiction conferred upon it by the Code Civil Mauricien in
relation to successions and the division of immovable property, and by the Sale of
Immovable Property Act. The Masters Court also deals with and rules upon all pre-trial
issues for civil cases lodged before the Supreme Court.
(d) The Mediation Division

One Puisne Judge is currently in post at the Mediation Division.
The Chief Justice may upon the application of any party, refer a civil suit, action, cause or
matter pending before the Supreme Court to the Mediation Division.
The primary purpose of mediation is to dispose of civil suits, actions, causes or matters by
common agreement or to narrow down the issues in dispute.
1.5.3
The Criminal Division of the Supreme Court (Assizes)
The Supreme Court in the exercise of its criminal jurisdiction has the power to try any person
charged with having committed a crime or a misdemeanour.
Assizes and serious drug cases are heard on a daily basis at the Criminal Division of the
Supreme Court (Assizes). Criminal trials are either held before a Presiding Judge and a jury
consisting of 9 persons who are qualified to serve as jurors, or before a Presiding Judge
without a jury. Offences laid under the Criminal Code falling under the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court are tried at the Criminal Division before a Presiding Judge
and a jury. Offences specified in the Fifth Schedule to the Criminal Procedure Act are tried
before a Presiding Judge without a jury.
In the exercise of its criminal jurisdiction, the Supreme Court is empowered to inflict penal
servitude for life in cases of murder, or where the Court is satisfied that substantial and
compelling circumstances exist which justify the imposition of a lesser sentence, a term not
exceeding 60 years.
1.5.4
Appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has full power and jurisdiction to hear and determine all appeal cases,
whether civil or criminal, from the decision of:
i. the Judge in Chambers;
ii. the Masters Court;
iii. the Intermediate Court;
iv. the Industrial Court;
v. the District Courts and
vi. a body established under any other enactment.
Appeals to the Supreme Court are heard before at least two judges, except as otherwise
provided for in any other enactment.
1.5.5
Court of Civil Appeal
The Court of Civil Appeal is a Division of the Supreme Court. It hears and determines all
appeals from the decisions of the Supreme Court sitting as the Court of first instance in civil
proceedings. It is constituted of two or three Judges, as the Chief Justice may decide. Where
the Chief Justice is absent or is for any reason unable to sit on the Court of Civil Appeal, the
Senior Puisne Judge, presides over the Court of Civil Appeal.
1.5.6
Court of Criminal Appeal
The Court of Criminal Appeal is a Division of the Supreme Court. It is constituted of three
Judges and has full power to hear and determine all appeals from the decisions of the
Supreme Court sitting as the Court of first instance in criminal proceedings. The Chief
Justice and, in his absence the Senior Puisne Judge, presides over the Court of Criminal
Appeal.
1.6 THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL

The Judicial Committee is the final court of appeal of Mauritius. An appeal shall lie from
decisions of the Court of Appeal or of the Supreme Court to the Judicial Committee as of
right in the following cases:
i. final decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings and on questions relating to the
interpretation of the Constitution;
ii. where the matter in dispute is of the value of Rs 10,000 or upwards or where the
appeal involves directly or indirectly a claim to or a question respecting property or a
right of the value of Rs 10,000 or upwards;
iii. final decisions in proceedings under section 17 of the Constitution for the
enforcement of protective provisions;
iv. with leave of the Supreme Court, where in the opinion of the Court the question
involved in the appeal is one that by reason of its great general or public importance
or otherwise ought to be submitted to the Judicial Committee.
1.7
1.7.1
SUBORDINATE COURTS
Intermediate Court
The Intermediate Court is established under the Courts Act and has islandwide civil and
criminal jurisdiction, including Rodrigues. It consists of two Presidents, two Vice-Presidents
and any such number of Magistrates of the Intermediate Court established under the Civil
Establishment Order.
(a) Civil Jurisdiction of the Intermediate Court
The Intermediate Court has jurisdiction in all civil cases where the claim or matter in dispute,
whether in balance of account or otherwise, does not exceed Rs 500,000. The bench of the
Intermediate Court is constituted by one or more Magistrates, as may be decided by the
President.
(b) Criminal Jurisdiction

The Intermediate Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine serious criminal offences
provided under specific sections of the Criminal Code and any other offence that can be tried
by the Intermediate Court under any other enactment. It has power to inflict penal servitude
on convicted offenders for a period not exceeding fifteen years and imprisonment for a
period not exceeding ten years. However, for persistent offenders, the Intermediate Court
may increase the sentence to twenty years penal servitude. The Intermediate Court is also
empowered to inflict a higher sentence for offences under the Dangerous Drugs Act and the
Criminal Code.
1.7.2
Industrial Court
The Industrial Court consists of a President and a Vice-President. It is established under the
Industrial Court Act and has exclusive civil and criminal jurisdiction to try any matter arising
out of the Employment Rights Act, Employment and Training Act, Export Processing Zones
Act, Passenger Transport Industry (Buses) Retiring Benefits Act, Sugar Industry Retiring
Benefits Act, Workmens Compensation Act and Health & Welfare legislations.
1.7.3
District Courts
There are ten District Courts on the Island of Mauritius and one in Rodrigues. District Courts
have jurisdiction to try and determine both civil and criminal cases as provided for by law.
Each District Court is presided by a District Magistrate and any such number of District
Magistrates as may be decided by the Chief Justice.
(a) Civil Jurisdiction of the District Court
The District Court has jurisdiction in all civil cases where the claim or matter in dispute does
not exceed Rs 50,000. Conversely, District Magistrates have exclusive jurisdiction in
landlord and tenant disputes, irrespective of the amount of the claim for non-payment of rent.
(b) Jurisdiction under the Protection from Domestic Violence Act 1997
By virtue of the Protection from Domestic Violence Act 1997, Court Officers are entrusted
with the duty of receiving and processing applications for an Order from an aggrieved spouse
and from persons living under the same roof, who may be victims of domestic violence.
District Magistrates are empowered to hear and determine such applications and to issue
Protection Orders where the Court is satisfied that there is a serious risk of harm to the
applicants. District Magistrates are also empowered to receive and determine applications
for the issue of Occupation Orders and Tenancy Orders. Such orders confer upon the victims
of domestic violence the exclusive right to the use and occupation of the conjugal common
house.
(c) Small Claims Procedure
The Small Claims Procedure was introduced in 1999 to enable District Courts to adjudicate
on minor claims not exceeding Rs 25,000 in a summary and expeditious manner. Such
claims are lodged by the litigants themselves after filling in a prescribed form which is
served on the adverse parties. Both parties are convened before the Magistrate in Chambers
6
to resolve the dispute. In the event that there is no agreement between the parties, the matter
is set down for trial. It is to be noted that such cases are disposed of by conflict resolution
rather than through a trial process.
(d) Criminal Jurisdiction
District Courts have power and jurisdiction to hear and determine criminal cases punishable
by a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years and a fine not exceeding Rs 100,000.
(e) Juvenile Court
District Magistrates also exercise jurisdiction as Magistrates of the Juvenile Court. The
Juvenile Court tries young persons suspected of having committed criminal offences. The
Juvenile Court also deals with children who are beyond parental control and/or who need
care and protection.
(f) Bail and Remand Court
The Bail and Remand Court (BRC) established under Part IV of the Bail Act 1999, as
subsequently amended by Act No 34 of 2011, has exclusive jurisdiction with regard to
remand or release of persons charged with an offence or arrested on reasonable suspicion of
having committed an offence. It also operates on weekends and public holidays to safeguard
the Constitutional rights of detainees.
The BRC is presided over by a District Magistrate and is located at the New Court House in
Port Louis.
(g) Court of Rodrigues
The Court of Rodrigues is administered by a full-time Magistrate and a visiting Judge of the
Supreme Court.
A visiting Magistrate also visits other smaller islands forming part of the Republic of
Mauritius whenever required.
1.8
THE INSTITUTE FOR JUDICIAL AND LEGAL STUDIES (IJLS)
The Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies promotes:

i.
proficiency and ensures the maintenance of standards in the Judiciary, among Law
Practitioners/Legal Officers and Officers of the Court Cadre in order to enhance the
delivery of Court Services
ii.
international exchanges and co-operation with other jurisdictions in the field of

judicial and legal studies
1.9
THE RULES COMMITTEE
The Rules Committee was set up in August 2001 to advise and make recommendations to the
Chief Justice in respect of rules to be made under section 198 of the Courts Act. The Rules
Committee consists of a Judge (Chairperson of the Committee) appointed by the Chief
Justice, the Master and Registrar or his representative, a representative of the Bar Council, a
representative of the Law Society, a representative of the Attorney-Generals Office and two
other law practitioners appointed by the Chief Justice.
1.10
REFORM
e-judiciary
The Judiciary has, since April 2010, embarked on the development and implementation of an
electronic filing of cases and an electronic case management system.
The programme has materialized with the help of Investment Climate Facility for Africa
(ICF) which provided a grant of 75% of the project costs, the balance being funded by the
Government of Mauritius. Mauritius Network Services Ltd has been awarded the contract to
develop and implement the software with the assistance of its foreign partner, Crimson Logic
of Singapore.
Phase I
Phase I of the project concerns cases lodged before the Supreme Court (Commercial & Civil
cases) and before the Judge in Chambers. The launching of the first phase on a pilot basis
took place in April 2013 at the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court. The system will
be extended to other divisions of the Supreme Court (except for the Family and the Criminal
Divisions). The e-judiciary will be implemented in these Divisions and in all subordinate
courts during phase II of the Modernization of the Judiciary programme.
2. SUPREME COURT
2.1
All cases
The total number of cases lodged (excluding appeal cases) at the Supreme Court decreased by
1% to 9,091 in 2015 from 9,154 in 2014 (Table 1.1).
Similarly, the total number of cases disposed of (excluding appeal cases) at the Supreme
Court decreased by 9% to 9,381 in 2015 from 10,357 in 2014.
A physical count of the total number of outstanding cases (excluding appeal cases) showed
that 7,765 cases were not yet disposed of at the end of the year 2015, representing a fall of 4%
over the figure of 8,055 in 2014 (Table 1.1).
2.2
The Criminal Division of the Supreme Court (Assizes)
The number of criminal offences, convicted at the Criminal Division of the Supreme Court
(Assizes), declined by 13% to 34 in 2015 from 39 in 2014 with decreases in custodial
sentences for murder, sexual offences and drug offences. However, some 13 accused were
sentenced for manslaughter in 2015 compared to 8 in 2014. The number of convictions for
wounds and blows causing death without intention to kill but with premeditation went up to
7 in 2015 from 3 in 2014 (Table 1.3a).
2.3
Appellate Jurisdiction
In 2015, some 303 appeal cases (140 civil and 163 criminal) were lodged at the Supreme
Court with a decrease of 8% over the 2014 figure of 329. About 30% of the 140 civil appeals
were from lower Courts. On the contrary, most (96%) of 163 criminal appeal cases lodged
were from the lower Courts and the remaining 6 cases from the Court of Criminal Appeals.
The total number of cases disposed of at the Appellate Jurisdiction almost halved to 300 in
2015 from 555 in 2014 due to decreases of 57% in civil cases to 140 and 30% in criminal
cases to 160.
At the end of year 2015, some 542 cases (334 civil and 208 criminal) were physically
counted, up by 1% against 539 in 2014 (Table 1.4).
2.4
Family Division
The total number of divorce petitions lodged at the Family Division for the Republic of
Mauritius increased by 7% to 2,556 in 2015 from 2,384 in 2014. This was due to a rise of 8%
for Mauritius and a fall of 12% for Rodrigues (Table 1.6).
Conversely, the number of divorce petitions disposed of decreased by 7% to 2,606 in 2015
from 2,812 in 2014. About 83% of the 2,606 divorce cases disposed of resulted in divorce
pronounced. (Table 1.8).
In 2015, around 47% of the petitioners were females compared to 29% of males; 67% were
married for 14 years or less; 24% of divorces were pronounced on mutual consent from both
parties and 64% had only one or no child from the marriage (Tables 1.7 to 1.9).
A physical count of the total number of cases outstanding was 1,481 at the end of year 2015, a
drop of 3% over the 2014 figure of 1,531.
2.5
Mediation Division
The number of civil cases received at the Mediation Division of the Supreme Court dropped
by 33% to 226 in 2015 from 335 in 2014. Out of 308 cases (226 received in 2015 and 82
pending at the beginning of 2015), about 60% have been referred back to court, 26% were
where agreements between parties have been successfully recorded and 1% were purely and
simply struck out/set aside.
The number of outstanding cases at the end of 2015 fell by 52% to 39 from 82 at the same
period in 2014 (Table 1.10).
10
Table 1.1 - All cases at the Supreme Court, 2012 - 2015

Cases pending at the beginning
of the year
Cases outstanding at the end

of the year
Cases disposed of
Cases lodged
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
943
860
765
539
370
369
329
303
453
464
555
300
860
765
539
542
Civil
520
460
481
334
184
211
180
140
244
190
327
140
460
481
334
334
Criminal
423
400
284
205
186
158
149
163
209
274
228
160
400
284
205
208
Other cases
8,202
7,884
9,258
8,055
8,883
9,248
9,154 9,091
8,015
7,874 10,357
9,381
8,073
9,258
8,055
7,765
8,190
7,853
9,223
8,019
8,849
9,216
9,115 9,056
8,000
7,846 10,319
9,345
8,042
9,223
8,019
7,730
12
31
35
36
34
32
38
36
31
35
36
35
8,744 10,023
8,594
9,253
9,617
8,338 10,912
9,681
8,933 10,023
8,594
8,307
Appeal cases
11
Civil
Criminal
Total
9,145
39
35
15
9,483 9,394
8,468
28
Table 1.2 - Cases at the Criminal Division of the Supreme Court (Assizes), 2012 - 2015
of the year
Cases lodged

of the year
Cases disposed of
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
12
31
35
36
34
32
39
35
15
28
38
36
31
35
36
35
Trial by Jury
15
20
28
15
16
32
18
11
24
26
15
20
28
20
Trial without Jury
16
15
19
16
17
17
14
10
16
15
15
Criminal Division
Table 1.3 - Offences disposed of by type of offence at the Criminal Division of the Supreme Court (Assizes), 2012 - 2015
Offences
2013
2014
Trial by Jury
13
23
26
Murder
Manslaughter
12
13
Wounds and blows causing death without

intention to kill but with premeditation
Rape
Sodomy
Aiding & abetting in the commission of a crime
10
23
17
10
Importation of heroin
21
16
Importation of gandia
Other2
17
36
40
36
12
2012
Trial without Jury
Total
1
2
A case may comprise one or more offences

Other include importation/trafficking/possession of other drugs (e.g hashish, subitex, buprenorphine, etc.)
2015
Table 1.3a - Offences disposed of by type of offence and outcome of judgment at the
Criminal Division of the Supreme Court (Assizes), 2012 - 2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
15
36
39
34
13
36
35
32
13
14
17
Murder
Manslaugher
12
13
Rape
Sodomy
23
12
21
11
Importation of gandia
Other 2
Dismissed/Struck Out/Nolle Prosequi
Intentional homicide
17
36
40
36
Total convictions
Imprisonment
Non intentional homicide

Wounds and blows causing death
without intention to kill but with
premeditation
Sexual offences
Drug offences
Other
Fine
Drug offences
Murder
Drug offences
Other offences
Aiding & abetting in the commission
of a crime
Total
1
A case may comprise one or more offences
Other include importation/trafficking/possession of other drugs (e.g hashish, subitex, buprenorphine, etc.)
13
Table 1.4 - Appellate Jurisdiction at the Supreme Court, 2012 - 2015

of the year
Cases lodged

of the year
Cases disposed of
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
520
460
481
334
184
211
180
140
244
190
327
140
460
481
334
334
Civil appeals from

lower Courts
173
162
127
102
56
36
43
42
67
71
68
59
162
127
102
85
Appeals from
decisions of the Judge
sitting at Chambers,
Tribunals & other
authorities, etc.
237
181
218
123
68
114
56
48
124
77
151
28
181
218
123
143
Court of Civil
Appeals
110
117
136
109
60
61
81
50
53
42
108
53
117
136
109
106
423
400
284
205
186
158
149
163
209
274
228
160
400
284
205
208
395
380
270
200
184
153
146
157
199
263
216
153
380
270
200
204
28
20
14
10
11
12
20
14
943
860
765
539
370
369
329
303
453
464
555
300
860
765
539
542
Civil
14
Criminal
Criminal appeals from

lower Courts
Court of Criminal
Appeals
Total
Table 1.5 - Civil cases at the Supreme Court, 2012 - 2015

of the year
Cases lodged

of the year
Cases disposed of
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
258
339
797
538
1,394
1,449
1,672
1,596
1,257
991
1,931
1,720
339
797
538
414
45
35
147
112
641
507
843
735
629
395
878
736
35
147
112
111
Commercial matters
185
249
593
419
624
818
757
780
526
474
931
900
249
593
419
299
Bankruptcy petitions
28
55
57
129
124
72
81
102
122
122
84
55
57
1,051
1,389
1,515
1,488
713
690
572
589
542
564
599
482
1,312
1,515
1,488
1,595
Levy cases
480
745
819
776
389
425
351
345
321
351
394
293
668
819
776
828
Division in kind cases
571
644
696
712
324
265
221
244
221
213
205
189
644
696
712
767
2,996
1,906
2,589
2,223
3,776
3,906
3,722
3,952
3,700
3,223
4,088
4,171
2,172
2,589
2,223
2,004
2,127
1,368
1,925
1,507
2,300
2,354
2,292
2,475
2,323
1,797
2,710
2,536
1,337
1,925
1,507
1,446
Motions (alimony, child

custody, etc.)
485
271
372
441
620
621
574
609
587
520
505
715
385
372
441
335
Chambers
384
267
292
275
856
931
856
868
790
906
873
920
450
292
275
223
3,539
3,741
3,797
3,292
1,054
1,064
1,107
948
852
1,008
1,612
1,022
3,741
3,797
3,292
3,218
3,115
3,229
3,325
3,049
720
749
784
661
606
653
1,060
754
3,229
3,325
3,049
2,956
424
512
472
243
334
315
323
287
246
355
552
268
512
472
243
262
346
478
525
478
1,912
2,107
2,042
1,971
1,649
2,060
2,089
1,950
478
525
478
499
8,190
7,853
9,223
8,019
8,849
9,216
9,115
9,056
8,000
7,846 10,319
9,345
8,042
9,223
8,019
7,730
Commercial Court
Chambers
Master's Court
15
Family Division
Divorce petitions
Registry (Le Greffe)

Plaints with summons
Motions and other applications
& Reference from Chambers
Chambers (civil)
Total
16
Appellate
Criminal
Appellate Civil
Registry Criminal
Registry Civil
Chambers
Family Division
Master's Court
Commercial
Court
Number of cases
4,000
4,000
Appellate
Criminal
Appellate Civil
Registry
Criminal
Registry Civil
Chambers
Family Division
Master's Court
Commercial
Court
Number of cases
Figure 1.5a - Cases lodged at the Supreme Court, 2014 & 2015
4,500
2014
3,500
2015
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
Figure 1.5b - Cases disposed of at the Supreme Court, 2014 & 2015
4,500
2014
3,500
2015
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
Table 1.6 - Divorce cases, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015

Island of Mauritius
Island of Rodrigues
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
Cases pending at the beginning of

the year
2,127
1,368
1,925
1,507
52
34
34
24
2,179
1,402
1,959
1,531
Cases lodged
2,300
2,354
2,292
2,475
104
96
92
81
2,404
2,450
2,384
2,556
Cases disposed of:
2,323
1,797
2,710
2,536
86
96
102
70
2,409
1,893
2,812
2,606
1,929
1,494
2,175
2,097
74
90
87
64
2,003
1,584
2,262
2,161
391
289
522
430
11
15
402
294
537
436
Dismissed
12
11
13
11
Judicial separation
1,337
1,925
1,507
1,446
70
34
24
35
1,407
1,959
1,531
1,481
Divorce pronounced
17
Withdrawn/Struck out/Set aside
Cases outstanding at the end of the

year
Table 1.7 - Divorces/Judicial separations pronounced by number of children involved in the marriage, Republic of Mauritius,
2012 - 2015
Island of Mauritius
Island of Rodrigues
No. of children involved

2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
689
537
746
711
11
12
18
10
700
549
764
721
580
446
685
648
27
37
30
26
607
483
715
674
466
357
534
529
15
26
28
15
481
383
562
544
152
118
172
171
15
167
125
178
180
26
32
33
34
29
37
37
38
13
14
6 and above
1,930
1,496
2,177
2,099
74
90
87
64
2,004
1,586
2,264
2,163
Total
Table 1.8 - Divorces pronounced by petitioning parties and grounds, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015
Island of Mauritius
Island of Rodrigues
18
Petitioning party &

grounds
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
Husband petitioner
603
415
595
616
24
35
22
12
627
450
617
628
341
235
352
331
12
22
18
10
353
257
370
341
27
26
21
34
31
26
22
34
235
154
222
251
13
243
167
225
253
994
713
1,061
968
46
50
57
43
1,040
763
1,118
1,011
728
512
774
664
41
47
56
36
769
559
830
700
Aux torts partags
257
193
278
296
262
196
279
303
Joint petitioners
(both husband & wife)
332
366
519
513
336
371
527
522
332
366
519
513
336
371
527
522
1,929
1,494
2,175
2,097
74
90
87
64
2,003
1,584
2,262
2,161
Grounds:
Faute
Rupture de vie commune
Aux torts partags
Wife petitioner
Grounds:
Faute
Rupture de vie commune
Ground:
Mutual consent
Total
Table 1.9 - Divorces/Judicial separations pronounced by duration of marriage (years), Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015
Duration of
marriage (years)
Island of Mauritius
Island of Rodrigues
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
Under 5
425
309
389
407
432
315
398
415
5-9
528
435
664
560
20
35
27
12
548
470
691
572
10 - 14
418
298
438
453
22
15
19
18
440
313
457
471
15 - 19
234
194
300
288
12
10
10
246
203
310
298
20 - 24
175
144
196
210
10
180
149
206
217
25 - 29
82
57
116
104
84
66
121
106
30 and above
68
59
74
77
11
74
70
81
84
1,930
1,496
2,177
2,099
74
90
87
64
2,004
1,586
2,264
2,163
Total
19
Figure 1.9 - Divorces/Judicial separations pronounced by duration of marriage (years),

less than 10 yrs
46%
Sum of 2009
Duration of Total
10 yrs and
723
20 yrs and
319
less than 1
1018
Grand Tota
2060
10 yrs and less than 20 yrs

35%
20 yrs and above

19%
Table 1.10 - Civil cases at the Mediation Division of the Supreme Court, 2012 - 2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
Cases pending at the beginning of the year
109
209
119
82
Cases received during the year
582
393
335
226
No of cases where agreement has been recorded
171
172
120
81
43
50
19
No of cases referred back to court (Master & Registrar) to

be fixed
268
261
233
185
Cases outstanding at the end of the year
209
119
82
39
No of cases purely and simply struck out/set aside
20
3. INTERMEDIATE COURT
The total number of cases lodged at the Intermediate Court decreased by 5% to 3,163 in 2015
from 3,341 in 2014 resulting from drops of 8% in the number of civil cases and of 1% in the
number of criminal cases.
Similarly, a decrease of 2% was noted in the total number of cases disposed of due to a fall of
7% in civil cases and a rise of 7% in criminal cases.
The number of cases outstanding dropped by 2% to 6,305 at the end of year 2015 from 6,422
for the same period in 2014.
Table 2.1 - Civil and criminal cases at the Intermediate Court, 2012 - 2015
Civil cases
Criminal cases
Total
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
Cases
pending at the
beginning of
the year
2,502
4,264
4,273
4,212
1,385
1,733
2,140
2,210
3,887
5,997
6,413
6,422
Cases lodged
2,080
1,979
2,051
1,886
1,757
1,945
1,290
1,277
3,837
3,924
3,341
3,163
Cases disposed
of
1,827
1,970
2,112
1,970
1,409
1,538
1,220
1,310
3,236
3,508
3,332
3,280
Cases
outstanding at
the end of the
year
3,106
4,273
4,212
4,128
1,733
2,140
2,210
2,177
4,839
6,413
6,422
6,305
21
4. INDUSTRIAL COURT
The total number of cases lodged at the Industrial Court increased by 1% to 1,231 in 2015
from 1,215 in 2014. A rise of 6% was noted in civil cases against a fall of 17% in criminal
cases.
An overall decrease of 6% was registered in the number of cases disposed of with a rise of 3%
in civil cases and a drop of 30% in criminal cases.
At the end of the year 2015, a physical count of the total number of cases showed that 1,117
cases (928 civil and 189 criminal) were outstanding, a rise of 2% over the 2014 figure of
1,090.
Table 3.1 - Civil and criminal cases at the Industrial Court, 2012 - 2015
Civil cases
Criminal cases
Total
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
Cases pending
at the beginning
of the year
641
845
856
875
194
304
299
215
835
1,149
1,155
1,090
Cases lodged
922
939
952
1,013
259
244
263
218
1,181
1,183
1,215
1,231
Cases disposed
of
803
928
933
960
199
249
347
244
1,002
1,177
1,280
1,204
Cases
outstanding at
the end of the
year
845
856
875
928
304
299
215
189
1,149
1,155
1,090
1,117
22
5. BAIL & REMAND COURT

From 2014 to 2015, the number of cases lodged at the Bail and Remand Court (BRC)
increased by 6% from 3,905 to 4,148 whilst those disposed of showed a drop of 13% from
4,533 to 3,926. Compared to the end of year 2014, the number of cases outstanding at the end
of year 2015 rose by 19% to 1,384. Out of 1,754 applications received for bail hearing, 56%
were successful.
Table 4.1 - Cases at the Bail and Remand Court (BRC), 2014 & 2015
2014
2015
Cases pending at the beginning of the year
1,790
1,162
Cases lodged
3,905
4,148
Cases disposed of
4,533
3,926
Cases outstanding at the end of the year
1,162
1,384
Applications for bail hearing
2,108
1,754
Bail granted
1,113
978
6. WEEKEND COURT
The cases lodged at the Weekend Court fell by 5% to 1,319 in 2015 from 1,385 in 2014. Out
of 1,319 cases lodged in 2015, there were police objection in 68% of them and detainees have
been released on parole in the remaining 32% of cases. Some 54 cases were fixed for bail
hearing with 26% being undefended and 7% being cases where bail was not granted.
Table 5.1 - Cases at the Weekend Court (WEC), 2014 & 2015
2014
2015
1,385
1,319
475
425
910
894
Defended
28
40
Undefended
64
14
43
50
49
Cases lodged
Cases where detainees have been released on
parole
Cases where there was police objection
Total cases fixed for bail hearing:
Total number of bail (after hearing): Granted

Not granted
23
7. DISTRICT COURTS
In 2015, about 43% of civil and criminal cases were lodged in urban areas. From 2014 to
2015, an increase was noted in the number of these cases across all the courts except for falls
of 19% in Port Louis (Division I), 7% in the District Court of Moka and 3% in the District
Court of Upper Plaines Wilhems. Among the rural areas, the District Court of Flacq registered
the largest number of cases lodged at 14,633 in 2015 (Table 6.1). The number of criminal
cases lodged increased by 8% to 121,167 in 2015 from 112,291 in 2014. However, in 2015,
drops were noted at the District Courts of Moka (-7%) and Upper Plaines Wilhems (-2%)
(Table 6.2). From 2014 to 2015, an overall decrease of 12% was felt in the total number of
civil cases lodged from 7,093 to 6,209. This drop was observed across all District Courts
except for that of Black River whereby a rise of 2% was noted.
From 2014 to 2015, the total number of civil and criminal cases which were disposed of
decreased marginally to 123,755. A decrease of 12% was noted in civil cases from 7,281 to
6,400 and a negligible increase in criminal cases from 116,862 to 117,355. The largest
number of cases disposed of in 2015 was recorded at the Division III of Port Louis District
Court. In 2015, despite a negligible rise in the total number of criminal cases disposed of, falls
were felt at the District Courts of Riviere du Rempart (-17%), Flacq (-17%) and
Pamplemousses (-12%) (Table 6.2). A decrease in the number of civil cases disposed of was
noted at all District Courts except for those of Black River, Moka and Port Louis (Division I)
(Table 6.3).
The number of cases lodged under plaint with summons dropped by 18% to 2,920 in 2015
from 3,541 in 2014. Similarly, those disposed of for the same period decreased by 13% to
3,179 from 3,675 (Table 6.4).
From 2014 to 2015, the number of cases under the Small Claim Procedure lodged and those
disposed of showed respective falls of 16% to 1,041 and 10% to 1,032 (Table 6.5).
The number of cases lodged for State debts for the Island of Mauritius rose by 15% to 478 in
2015 from 416 in 2014 whilst for the same period, the cases disposed of showed a fall of 28%
to 395 in 2015 (Table 6.6).
Similarly, the number of cases lodged under the Protection from Domestic Violence Act 1997
decreased by 7% to 1,770 in 2015. More than half of them were lodged in the urban District
Courts and half of them came from the Lower Plaines Wilhems. Following in the same trend,
the number of cases disposed of also showed a fall of 6% to 1,794 in 2015 from 1,916 in 2014
(Table 6.7).
From 2014 to 2015, the total number of applications received under the Protection from
Domestic Violence Act 1997 decreased by 6% from 1,895 to 1,774 with drops for Protection
Orders from 1,855 to 1,734, for Occupation Orders from 35 to 34 and no case for revocation
in 2015. On the contrary, the applications received for tenancy increased from 4 in 2014 to 6
in 2015 (Table 6.8).
The applicants for Protection Orders among spouse/partner showed a drop of 12% to 1,387 in
2015. Some 93% of them were females (Tables 6.9 & 6.10).
24
Table 6.1 - Civil and criminal cases at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015
of the year
Cases lodged

of the year
Cases disposed of
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
869
843
737
764
1,628
1,264
1,279
1,031
1,651
1,473
1,252
1,270
843
634
764
525
3,802
3,538
2,778
2,805
9,250
12,583
9,567
10,627
7,720
13,343
9,540
10,214
3,538
2,778
2,805
3,218
678
1,078
4,682
3,273
11,787
13,398
16,112
16,979
9,429
9,794
17,521
17,604
1,078
4,682
3,273
2,648
Pamplemousses1
2,878
2,641
3,083
2,569
12,741
18,567
12,674
12,760
12,688
18,120
13,545
11,896
2,641
3,088
2,212
3,433
Riviere du Rempart
3,553
5,490
4,131
3,160
12,360
11,785
11,473
11,991
11,654
14,762
12,444
10,338
5,490
2,513
3,160
4,813
Flacq
3,474
5,254
6,055
4,925
13,862
14,236
14,568
14,633
10,826
14,189
15,698
13,119
5,254
5,301
4,925
6,439
Moka
1,512
2,664
2,203
3,278
8,635
8,773
8,553
7,915
7,483
9,234
7,478
8,571
2,664
2,203
3,278
2,622
Lower Plaines Wilhems
1,856
2,414
3,326
1,886
14,916
15,171
10,744
14,122
14,317
14,259
12,184
13,071
2,414
3,326
1,886
2,937
Upper Plaines Wilhems
2,266
4,182
3,101
3,778
16,259
13,128
12,164
11,788
13,683
14,209
11,487
12,621
4,182
3,101
3,778
2,945
Grand Port
1,677
1,362
1,127
1,501
9,083
7,780
6,593
7,618
9,398
8,015
6,219
7,232
1,362
1,127
1,501
1,887
Savanne
1,617
1,837
2,210
1,302
7,242
6,508
5,647
5,954
6,849
6,135
6,555
6,582
1,837
2,210
1,302
674
Black River 1
981
1,331
1,480
1,169
5,463
5,336
5,147
6,451
5,151
5,187
5,562
6,152
1,331
1,480
1,065
1,468
Rodrigues
306
572
305
510
5,244
3,941
4,863
5,507
4,897
4,208
4,658
5,085
653
305
510
932
Island of Mauritius
25,163 32,634
34,913
30,410 123,226 128,529
114,521 121,869 110,849 128,720 119,485 118,670
32,634
32,443
29,949
33,609
25,469 33,206
35,218
30,920 128,470 132,470
119,384 127,376 115,746 132,928 124,143 123,755
33,287
32,748
30,459
34,541
Port Louis Division I

Port Louis Division II
Port Louis Division III
25
1
Cases pending at the beginning of year 2015 revised in light of physical count carried out at the end of the year 2015
Table 6.2 - Criminal cases at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015

of the year
Cases lodged

of the year
Cases disposed of
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
3,802
3,538
2,778
2,805
9,250
12,583
9,567
10,627
7,720
13,343
9,540
10,214
3,538
2,778
2,805
3,218
678
1,078
4,682
3,273
11,787
13,398
16,112
16,979
9,429
9,794
17,521
17,604
1,078
4,682
3,273
2,648
Pamplemousses 1
2,778
2,575
2,973
2,484
12,261
18,003
12,197
12,289
12,116
17,605
13,022
11,427
2,575
2,973
2,148
3,346
Riviere du Rempart
3,482
5,450
4,040
3,076
12,032
11,396
11,063
11,652
11,294
14,424
12,027
9,999
5,450
2,422
3,076
4,729
Flacq
3,336
5,133
5,948
4,781
13,361
13,693
13,945
14,040
10,301
13,632
15,112
12,594
5,133
5,194
4,781
6,227
Moka
1,394
2,600
2,142
3,198
8,324
8,501
8,230
7,639
7,118
8,959
7,174
8,262
2,600
2,142
3,198
2,575
1,259
1,843
2,831
1,526
13,276
13,586
9,289
12,867
12,709
12,598
10,594
11,650
1,843
2,831
1,526
2,743
1,927
2,367
2,854
3,590
13,170
11,634
10,877
10,643
12,070
11,147
10,141
11,642
2,367
2,854
3,590
2,591
Grand Port
1,419
1,280
1,001
1,402
8,515
7,270
6,137
7,231
8,654
7,549
5,736
6,839
1,280
1,001
1,402
1,794
Savanne
1,519
1,809
2,145
1,261
6,940
6,253
5,436
5,777
6,477
5,917
6,320
6,399
1,809
2,145
1,261
639
927
1,296
1,439
1,085
5,100
5,006
4,773
6,070
4,778
4,863
5,231
5,786
1,296
1,439
981
1,369
164
516
251
472
5,011
3,736
4,665
5,353
4,659
4,001
4,444
4,939
516
251
472
886
Island of Mauritius
22,521 28,969
32,833
28,481
114,016 121,323
107,626 115,814
102,666 119,831 112,418 112,416
28,969
30,461
28,041
31,879
22,685 29,485
33,084
28,953
119,027 125,059
112,291 121,167
107,325 123,832 116,862 117,355
29,485
30,712
28,513
32,765
Port Louis Division II

Port Louis Division III
26
Black River
Rodrigues
Table 6.3 - Civil cases1 at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015

of the year
Cases lodged

of the year
Cases disposed of
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
869
843
737
764
1,628
1,264
1,279
1,031
1,651
1,473
1,252
1,270
843
634
764
525
100
66
110
85
480
564
477
471
572
515
523
469
66
115
64
87
71
40
91
84
328
389
410
339
360
338
417
339
40
91
84
84
Flacq
138
121
107
144
501
543
623
593
525
557
586
525
121
107
144
212
Moka
118
64
61
80
311
272
323
276
365
275
304
309
64
61
80
47
597
571
495
360
1,640
1,585
1,455
1,255
1,608
1,661
1,590
1,421
571
495
360
194
339
1,815
247
188
3,089
1,494
1,287
1,145
1,613
3,062
1,346
979
1,815
247
188
354
Grand Port
258
82
126
99
568
510
456
387
744
466
483
393
82
126
99
93
Savanne
98
28
65
41
302
255
211
177
372
218
235
183
28
65
41
35
Black River
54
35
41
84
363
330
374
381
373
324
331
366
35
41
84
99
142
56
54
38
233
205
198
154
238
207
214
146
137
54
38
46
Island of Mauritius
2,642
3,665
2,080
1,929
9,210
7,206
6,895
6,055
8,183
8,889
7,067
6,254
3,665
1,982
1,908
1,730
2,784
3,721
2,134
1,967
9,443
7,411
7,093
6,209
8,421
9,096
7,281
6,400
3,802
2,036
1,946
1,776

2
Pamplemousses
Riviere du Rempart
27
Rodrigues
Civil cases comprise plaint with summons, small claims, state debts and cases against the Protection from Domestic Violence Act 1997
Table 6.4 - Plaint with summons (civil) cases at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015
Cases lodged
Cases disposed of
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
1,359
918
860
724
1,410
1,179
817
941
Pamplemousses
170
289
188
269
272
259
222
265
Riviere du Rempart
157
146
168
138
166
113
175
136
Flacq
243
303
363
201
261
298
337
213
Moka
140
91
107
109
130
107
81
130
1,023
938
716
605
1,093
988
885
653
616
690
507
395
615
826
538
336
Grand Port
245
216
251
112
347
212
228
145
Savanne
113
143
112
48
116
124
120
71
Black River
176
178
129
210
181
166
115
189
Rodrigues
160
128
140
109
162
131
157
100
Island of Mauritius
4,242
3,912
3,401
2,811
4,591
4,272
3,518
3,079
4,402
4,040
3,541
2,920
4,753
4,403
3,675
3,179
Table 6.5 - Small Claim Procedure at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015
Cases lodged
Cases disposed of
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
107
115
148
76
96
85
153
85
Pamplemousses
102
87
138
80
87
60
141
92
Riviere du Rempart
80
68
96
81
95
54
96
88
Flacq
85
82
114
240
102
88
105
160
Moka
81
112
113
89
147
92
137
85
126
127
193
106
111
146
107
193
115
122
140
151
120
149
124
127
Grand Port
264
104
101
86
325
122
87
73
Savanne
172
73
77
63
239
60
90
55
Black River
99
68
118
69
113
73
100
73
Rodrigues
13
17
Island of Mauritius
1,231
958
1,238
1,041
1,435
929
1,140
1,031
1,244
961
1,241
1,041
1,452
932
1,142
1,032
28
Table 6.6 - State debts cases at the District Courts1, 2012 - 2015
Cases lodged
2012
2013
Cases disposed of
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
75
49
25
2,178
493
416
378
737
1,862
464
312
Grand Port
112
59
53
59
51
Savanne
41
32
478
738
1,964
548
395
Island of Mauritius
2,253
605
416
State debts cases not available/lodged at other District Courts
Table 6.7 - Cases under the Protection from Domestic Violence Act 1997 at the
District Courts, 2012 - 2015
Cases lodged
Cases disposed of
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
162
231
271
231
145
209
282
244
Pamplemousses
208
188
151
122
213
196
160
112
91
175
146
120
99
171
146
115
Flacq
173
158
146
152
162
171
144
152
Moka
90
69
103
78
88
76
86
94
416
520
546
544
403
478
573
575
180
189
224
221
141
225
220
204
Grand Port
59
78
104
130
72
79
109
124
Savanne
17
39
22
25
17
34
25
25
Black River
88
84
127
102
79
85
116
104
Rodrigues
60
74
55
45
59
73
55
45
Island of Mauritius
1,484
1,731
1,840
1,725
1,419
1,724
1,861
1,749
1,544
1,805
1,895
1,770
1,478
1,797
1,916
1,794
Riviere du Rempart
29
Table 6.8 - Breakdown by type of Orders under the Protection from Domestic Violence Act 1997 at the District Courts,
2014 & 2015
Orders
Total
Protection
Occupation
Tenancy
Revocation
30
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2014
Applications received
1,855
1,734
35
34
1,895
1,774
Interim Orders issued
1,772
1,603
1,779
1,610
Orders issued
1,025
1,061
1,035
1,071
Applications withdrawn/set aside/struck

out/dismissed
860
700
16
19
881
723
Cases where parties have been ordered to

attend counselling sessions
61
19
..
..
..
..
..
..
61
19
Figures for applications received/orders issued are not necessarily comparable to cases lodged/disposed of (table 6.7) due to applications made for different Orders or for
more than one person in a case
.. Not applicable
Table 6.9 - Breakdown of Protection Orders under the Protection from Domestic Violence Act 1997 at the District Courts,
2014 & 2015
Other persons living under
the same roof
Spouse/partner
Total
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
1,581
1,387
274
347
1,855
1,734
1,522
1,286
250
317
1,772
1,603
Orders issued
893
869
132
192
1,025
1,061

out/dismissed
751
560
109
140
860
700

59
19
61
19
31
2014
Table 6.10 - Breakdown by sex of Protection Orders under the Protection from Domestic Violence Act 1997 at the
District Courts, 2015
Other persons living under
the same roof
Spouse/partner
Total
Female
Total
Male
Female
Total
Male
Female
Total
92
1,295
1,387
101
246
347
193
1,541
1,734
71
1,215
1,286
90
227
317
161
1,442
1,603
Orders issued
43
826
869
50
142
192
93
968
1,061

out/dismissed
54
506
560
37
103
140
91
609
700
19
19
19
19
32
Male

Figure 6.1a - Total cases lodged, disposed of and outstanding at the

District Courts, Republic of Mauritius, 2014 & 2015
140000
2014
Number of cases
120000
2015
100000
80000
60000
40000
20000
Lodged
Disposed of
Outstanding
Figure 6.1b - Civil and criminal cases disposed of by District Courts,

2014 & 2015
19,000
2014
2015
Number of cases
16,000
13,000
10,000
7,000
4,000
1,000
33
8. CASES (CIVIL AND CRIMINAL) IN THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS

The number of cases lodged in the Republic of Mauritius increased by 6% to 141,164 in 2015
from 133,423 in 2014 with a rise of 8% for criminal cases and a drop of 6% for civil cases.
Similarly, in 2015, for the Island of Rodrigues, a rise of 15% was noted in criminal cases to
5,353 whilst a fall of 22% to 154 was noted for civil cases.
Conversely, for the same period, the total number of cases disposed of decreased slightly by 1%
resulting from a drop of 10% in civil cases to 18,815 and a marginal increase to 119,105 in
criminal cases.
At the end of year 2015, a physical count of the total number of outstanding cases was 50,270
with 35,374 for criminal and 14,896 for civil cases, a rise of 8% over the 2014 figure of 46,565
(Tables 7.1 - 7.3).
34
Table 7.1 - Total cases, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015

of the year
Cases lodged

of the year
Cases disposed of
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
Supreme Court
9,145
8,744
10,023
8,594
9,253
9,617
9,483
9,394
8,468
8,338
10,912
9,681
8,933
10,023
8,594
8,307
Appeal cases
943
860
765
539
370
369
329
303
453
464
555
300
860
765
539
542
8,202
7,884
9,258
8,055
8,883
9,248
9,154
9,091
8,015
7,874
10,357
9,381
8,073
9,258
8,055
7,765
3,887
5,997
6,413
6,422
3,837
3,924
3,341
3,163
3,236
3,508
3,332
3,280
4,839
6,413
6,422
6,305
835
1,149
1,155
1,090
1,181
1,183
1,215
1,231
1,002
1,177
1,280
1,204
1,149
1,155
1,090
1,117
25,163 32,634
34,913
30,410
123,226 128,529 114,521
121,869
110,849 128,720 119,485
118,670
32,634
32,443
29,949
33,609
305
510
5,085
653
305
510
932
Other cases
Intermediate Court
Industrial Court
35
District Courts1
Court of Rodrigues
306
572
Island of Mauritius
39,030
48,524
52,504 46,516
137,497 143,253 128,560 135,657
123,555 141,743 135,009 132,835
47,555
50,034
46,055
49,338
39,336
49,096
52,809 47,026
142,741 147,194 133,423 141,164
128,452 145,951 139,667 137,920
48,208
50,339
46,565
50,270
5,244
3,941
4,863
5,507
4,897
4,208
4,658
Table 7.2 - Total criminal cases, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015

of the year
Cases lodged

of the year
Cases disposed of
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
Supreme Court
435
431
319
241
220
190
188
198
224
302
266
196
431
319
241
243
Appeal cases
423
400
284
205
186
158
149
163
209
274
228
160
400
284
205
208
Other cases
12
31
35
36
34
32
39
35
15
28
38
36
31
35
36
35
1,385
1,733
2,140
2,210
1,757
1,945
1,290
1,277
1,409
1,538
1,220
1,310
1,733
2,140
2,210
2,177
Industrial Court
194
304
299
215
259
244
263
218
199
249
347
244
304
299
215
189
District Courts1
22,521
28,969
32,833
28,481
114,016 121,323 107,626
115,814
102,666 119,831 112,418
112,416
28,969
30,461
28,041
31,879
164
516
251
472
4,939
516
251
472
886
Island of Mauritius
24,535
31,437
35,591
31,147
116,252 123,702 109,367 117,507
104,498 121,920 114,251 114,166
31,437
33,219
30,707
34,488
24,699
31,953
35,842
31,619
121,263 127,438 114,032 122,860
109,157 125,921 118,695 119,105
31,953
33,470
31,179
35,374
Intermediate Court
36
Court of Rodrigues
5,011
3,736
4,665
5,353
4,659
4,001
4,444
Table 7.3 - Total civil cases, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015

of the year
Cases lodged

of the year
Cases disposed of
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
Supreme Court
8,710
8,313
9,704
8,353
9,033
9,427
9,295
9,196
8,244
8,036
10,646
9,485
8,502
9,704
8,353
8,064
Appeal cases
520
460
481
334
184
211
180
140
244
190
327
140
460
481
334
334
8,190
7,853
9,223
8,019
8,849
9,216
9,115
9,056
8,000
7,846
10,319
9,345
8,042
9,223
8,019
7,730
2,502
4,264
4,273
4,212
2,080
1,979
2,051
1,886
1,827
1,970
2,112
1,970
3,106
4,273
4,212
4,128
Industrial Court
641
845
856
875
922
939
952
1,013
803
928
933
960
845
856
875
928
District Courts1
2,642
3,665
2,080
1,929
9,210
7,206
6,895
6,055
8,183
8,889
7,067
6,254
3,665
1,982
1,908
1,730
142
56
54
38
233
205
198
154
238
207
214
146
137
54
38
46
Island of Mauritius
14,495
17,087
16,913
15,369
21,245
19,551
19,193
18,150
19,057
19,823
20,758
18,669
16,118
16,815
15,348
14,850
14,637
17,143
16,967
15,407
21,478
19,756
19,391
18,304
19,295
20,030
20,972
18,815
16,255
16,869
15,386
14,896
Other cases
Intermediate Court
37
Court of Rodrigues
Figure 7.1 - Total cases lodged, disposed of and outstanding,

160,000
2014
Number of cases
140,000
2015
120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
Lodged
Disposed of
Outstanding
140,000
Figure 7.2 - Total criminal cases lodged, disposed of and outstanding,

2014
Number of cases
120,000
2015
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
Lodged
Disposed of
Outstanding
Number of cases
Figure 7.3 - Total civil cases lodged, disposed of and outstanding,

22,000
21,000
20,000
19,000
18,000
17,000
16,000
15,000
14,000
2014
2015
Lodged
Disposed of
Outstanding
38
9. CRIME STATISTICS
9.1 Summary of criminal offences disposed of
In 82% (118,007) of the 144,290 criminal offences disposed of in 2015, the defendants were
proven guilty and sentenced; while 18% of the offences were acquitted or non-adjudicated
(Figure 8.2).
The Court of Rodrigues has the highest percentage (95%) of offences proven guilty followed by
the Supreme Court (94%) and the Industrial Court (87%).
Only 3,530 (3%) of the offences proven guilty were sentenced to Custodial Orders, i.e. the
persons were detained in an institution to serve their sentences. For the majority (97%) of these
offences, the defendants were either sentenced to pay fines or to serve Community
Service/Probation Orders (Non-Custodial Orders).
Some 94% of the sentences pronounced (proven guilty) at the Supreme Court followed by 37%
at the Intermediate Court were Custodial Orders. Conversely, all the sentences pronounced at the
Industrial Court and 98% of those pronounced at the District Courts were Non-Custodial Orders.
9.2 Convicted offences
The overall convicted offences increased by 2% to 118,007 in 2015 from 115,348 in 2014
(Table 8.3). This rise is due to main increases in sexual offences (+16%), property offences
(+6%), drug offences (+4%) and road traffic contraventions (+3%).
From 2014 to 2015, the rise in convicted sexual offences was mainly due to an increase in
solicits/importunes another person for immoral purpose from 9 to 17.
Similarly, the main increase in convicted property offences was due to rises in fraud and
dishonesty (+27%) from 731 to 928 and theft (+5%) from 3,282 to 3,451.
About 76% of the criminal offences disposed of in the Republic of Mauritius in 2015 were road
traffic contraventions. In addition to the 89,917 contraventions convicted in 2015 as shown in
Table 8.3, more road traffic contraventions were paid via fixed penalty notices. These are
directly paid to cash offices and are not considered as offences lodged and disposed of at court.
However, if the contravened is not agreeable to pay the fine, then a case is lodged.
39
Table 8.1 - Criminal offences disposed of according to United Nations classification of

offences (broad categories), Republic of Mauritius, 2014 & 2015
Island of Mauritius
Island of Rodrigues
2014 2
2015
2014
2015
2014 2
2015
133
139
137
140
Intentional homicide (committed)
16
20
16
21
Intentional homicide (attempted)
116
119
120
119
Assault and related offences
7,035
7,354
279
185
7,314
7,539
239
357
20
259
364
7,972
8,755
228
149
8,200
8,904
Fraud and dishonesty
909
1,187
19
915
1,206
Embezzlement
321
277
10
322
287
3,587
3,851
167
85
3,754
3,936
Robbery
1,258
1,391
63
20
1,321
1,411
Burglary
365
470
17
16
382
486
1,963
1,989
87
49
2,050
2,038
3,155
3,440
54
35
3,209
3,475
2,355
2,329
58
149
2,413
2,478
93,987
97,606
4,433
4,755
98,420
102,361
6,783
4,985
295
225
7,078
5,210
14,094
17,135
157
159
14,251
17,294
132,598
138,660
5,474
5,630
138,072
144,290
Homicide and related offences
Sexual offences
Property offences
Theft
Automobile theft
Other theft
Other property offences
Drug offences
Road traffic contraventions3
Other contraventions
Other offences
Total
1
2
3
An offence may involve one or more persons

Revised
Exclude figures on fixed penalty notice
40
Table 8.2 - Criminal offences1 disposed of by courts and outcome of judgment, Republic of Mauritius, 2014 & 2015
Convictions by penalty imposed
Acquitted & nonadjudicated2
RYC, CYC & other

institutions
Imprisonment
2014
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
Supreme Court
35
32
Industrial Court
51
32
1,569
1,761
1,169
2015
40
36
393
216
447
250
1,108
1,490
984
879
921
5,107
4,775
21,103
24,488
1,893
2,307
127
82
107,525
110,291
1,830
2,061
132,478
139,229
Port Louis Div II
1,154
1,960
106
335
11
11
10,329
9,883
167
189
11,767
12,378
Port Louis Div III
3,795
3,795
107
187
11,947
12,990
150
112
16,003
17,091
588
618
194
379
19
15,241
14,135
248
291
16,278
15,442
2,588
3,063
49
133
10,231
9,676
112
216
12,983
13,089
2,137
2,923
117
239
14,199
12,455
233
262
16,692
15,884
Moka
1,306
1,626
62
115
6,989
7,761
77
102
8,443
9,606
2,846
2,516
512
346
65
21
8,796
10,319
243
204
12,462
13,406
1,996
2,838
91
148
9,107
9,919
163
118
11,360
13,025
812
1,433
404
108
5,529
7,438
67
86
6,817
9,067
Savanne
1,197
1,808
79
152
6,402
5,958
98
95
7,779
8,016
Black River
2,073
1,619
89
115
4,004
4,694
245
158
6,420
6,595
611
289
83
50
4,751
5,063
27
228
5,474
5,630
Island of Mauritius
22,113
25,994
3,014
3,397
125
83
104,661
106,430
2,685
2,756
132,598
138,660
22,724
26,283
3,097
3,447
127
83
109,412
111,493
2,712
2,984
138,072
144,290
District Courts:
41
Pamplemousses
Riviere du Rempart
Flacq
Grand Port
Rodrigues
Acquitted means dismissed and non-adjudicated means struck out and Nolle Prosequi
Revised (data for year 2014)
2015
2014
2015
Total
2014
Intermediate Court
2014
Probation, Community
Service, Conditional &
Absolute Discharges
Fine
Figure 8.2 - Summary of criminal offences disposed of, Republic of Mauritius, 2015
Criminal offences1
disposed of
144,290
(100%)
District Courts
Supreme Court
Industrial Court
Intermediate Court
(exclude appeal cases)

36
(negligible)
250
(negligible)
4,775
(3%)
District Courts
(Island of
Mauritius)
133,599
(93%)
Court of Rodrigues
5,630
(4%)
42
Acquitted &
nonadjudicated2
Proven
guilty
Acquitted &
nonadjudicated2
Proven
guilty
Acquitted &
nonadjudicated2
Proven
guilty
Acquitted &
nonadjudicated2
2
(6%)
34
(94%)
32
(13%)
218
(87%)
1,761
(37%)
3,014
(63%)
24,199
(18%)
Acquitted &
Proven
guilty
adjudicated
109,400
(82%)
289
(5%)
non2
Proven
guilty
5,341
(95%)
Custodial
Orders3
Non Custodial
Orders
Custodial
Orders3
Non Custodial
Orders
Custodial
Orders3
Non Custodial
Orders
Custodial
Orders3
Non Custodial
Orders
Custodial
Orders3
Non Custodial
Orders
32
(94%)
2
(6%)
Nil
218
(100%)
1,109
(37%)
1,905
(63%)
2,339
(2%)
107,061
(98%)
50
(1%)
5,291
(99%)

Acquitted means dismissed and non-adjudicated means struck out & Nolle Prosequi
3
Custodial Orders comprise imprisonment and detention in Rehabilitation & Correctional Youth Centres
2
Table 8.3 - Convicted offences1 according to United Nations classification of offences, Republic of Mauritius, 2014 & 2015
Imprisonment
Offences
RYC, CYC &

other
Institutions
2
Community
Service
Probation
2014
2015
Homicide and related offences
46
41
60
32
Intentional homicide (committed)
14
17
Murder
Manslaughter
13
Abortion
Total
2014
2015
2014
2015
11
109
86
15
18
13
31
24
60
32
10
93
68
30
22
32
23
59
32
61
45
74
94
2,750
2,615
95
69
25
42
113
117
3,060
2,937
40
48
2,543
2,387
88
66
12
24
67
70
2,753
2,595
Assault causing sickness or incapacity for

personal labour for > 20 days
53
20
10
14
20
89
51
Assault against an agent of Civil Authority
15
15
138
183
13
17
168
219
13
10
16
14
22
18
10
47
59
Intentional homicide (attempted)

Attempted murder
43

Wounds and blows causing death without
intention to kill
Involuntary homicide
Assault and related offences3
Assault causing loss of eye and limbs
Simple assaults/wounds & blows
Assault with corrosive substance

Assault with premeditation
2014
2015
Conditional &
Absolute
Discharges
2015
2014
2015
Fine
2014
2014
2015
Table 8.3 (cont'd) - Convicted offences
according to United Nations classification of offences, Republic of Mauritius, 2014 & 2015
Imprisonment
Offences
RYC, CYC &

other Institutions
2
2015
48
Attempt upon chastity
19
Sexual intercourse with minor under 16; with

handicapped person; with specified person
11
14
Solicits/importunes another person for

immoral purpose
Sexual offences other
2014
2015
51
Rape
Sodomy
Sexual offences
2014
44
Causing child to be sexually abused;

accessing to a brothel; and engaging in
prostitution
2015
19
2014
Conditional &
Absolute
Discharges
Community
Service
Probation
2
2015
2014
2015
2014
2015
32
20
20
47
54
2014
17
12
Child Protection Act (CPA)
Fine
2014
2015
141
164
11
11
17
35
30
12
35
36
60
55
1
4
Total
17
17
13
36
23
1,545
1,926
25
33
2,014
1,921
181
164
239
366
1,350
1,272
5,354
5,682
162
310
390
325
11
14
47
104
121
174
731
928
Forgery
47
46
117
94
33
51
20
105
217
296
Swindling
47
170
33
23
12
22
12
106
217
Making use of forged document
19
16
27
29
Swearing false affidavit
12
Impersonation
Counterfeiting bank notes/ possession/

uttering of counterfeit bank notes
21
Forgery of passport/making use of forged

passport
11
Extortion
Property offences
10
36
14
10
Table 8.3 (cont'd) - Convicted offences1 according to United Nations classification of offences, Republic of Mauritius, 2014 & 2015
Imprisonment
Offences
RYC, CYC &

other
Institutions
Fine
2015
28
40
146
Demanding money or property by threat of

false accusation
Usurping public function
22
Giving false evidence

Issuing cheque without provision
Fraud and dishonesty other
2014
2015
2014
Offences under Prevention of Corruption Act (POCA)
Community
Service
Probation
2015
2015
2014
123
11
45
2014
Total
2014
2015
10
30
36
215
220
15
12
43
25
10
11
83
89
2014
2015
Conditional &
Absolute
Discharges
2014
2015
45
Bribery by Public Official
14
14
Bribery of Public Official
Other offences under POCA
45
26
70
68
34
37
44
66
198
202
1,228
1,490
24
816
846
146
99
132
199
936
787
3,282
3,451
478
586
11
15
116
153
61
25
60
75
392
330
1,118
1,184
34
36
12
43
54
12
12
Larceny with aggravating

circumstances/violence (including
upon minors/handicapped persons,
etc.)
59
108
18
18
53
79
142
217
Larceny by two or more individuals
328
373
87
112
47
19
53
66
310
220
833
797
49
61
22
25
88
104
Embezzlement
Theft
Automobile theft
Robbery
Larceny armed with offensive weapon
Larceny with violence by night
breaking
Larceny on public road
30
-
Imprisonment
Offences
RYC, CYC &

other
Institutions
2
Community
Service
Probation
2
269
11
27
48
10
18
24
67
85
343
439
Larceny by night breaking
86
113
17
26
35
132
175
Larceny (day) breaking
20
33
13
32
55
104
123
16
37
12
35
37
179
209
Other theft (excluding automobile theft)
540
635
11
672
644
75
65
54
100
477
372
1,820
1,827
Larceny by servant or any person in

receipt of wages
20
39
28
154
312
274
459
527
617
572
34
41
34
75
222
195
1,367
1,417
61
69
27
31
43
23
141
136
110
100
738
682
19
46
26
26
249
245
1,143
1,101
Damages to property
20
466
10
Receiving and possession of stolen

property
90
93
254
215
14
36
22
21
Larceny scaling
46
Other simple larcenies

Attempt at larceny
Arson
483
41
36
17
2014
16
2015
23
2014
212
16
223
10
2015
210
Burglary
2014
2015
Total
2015
2014
2015
Conditional &
Absolute
Discharges
2014
2014
2015
Fine
39
201
5
2014
528
604
11
2015
520
568
13
Imprisonment
Offences
RYC, CYC &

other
institutions
2
2015
194
193
2,041
2,131
96
148
87,522
16
1,083
981
99
Environment Protection Act
Food Act & Public Health Act
Local Government Act
Drug offences
Road traffic contraventions4
Other offences
Community
Service
Probation
2014
Total
2
2014
2015
2014
2015
21
20
15
2,264
2,363
89,652
91
98
17
13
87,726
89,917
5,500
3,453
74
12
13
5,531
3,563
47
9,506
11,657
32
35
102
74
341
501
11,163
13,295
601
774
602
775
681
1,511
681
1,511
853
1,398
10
866
1,401
44
39
250
291
15
20
316
355
3,097
3,447
127
83
109,412 111,493
322
358
488
639
1,902
1,987
2014
2015
Conditional &
Absolute
Discharges
2015
2014
2015
Fine
2014
2014
2015
of which offences under:
47
Protection from Domestic Violence Act
Total
1
Revised
3'
Assault causing effusion of blood' reclassified under 'assault against an agent of Civil Authority'
*Not collected separately
115,348 118,007
Table 8.4 - Convicted offences1 by court and according to United Nations classification of offences (broad categories),
Offences
Port Louis
Div II Div III
Homicide and related

offences 4
(committed)
Pamplemousses
Riv. du
Rempart
Flacq
Grand
Port
Savanne
RoseHill
Curepipe
Moka
Black IntermeRiver
diate
SC2
IC3
Rodrigues
All
Courts
47
24
86
17
18
47
68
Assault and related offences
291
177
377
368
387
194
275
251
238
149
130
28
72
2,937
10
112
164
379
379
686
364
372
260
198
546
378
182
272
1,542
124
5,682
40
51
57
37
35
15
32
58
15
14
552
17
928
22
17
23
13
71
202
262
243
447
218
237
186
126
405
238
120
192
699
78
3,451
Robbery
84
92
158
74
75
47
37
104
71
24
65
336
17
1,184
Burglary
23
14
70
22
23
27
53
22
13
28
122
15
439
155
137
219
122
138
112
82
248
145
83
99
241
46
1,827
71
76
160
92
92
52
58
86
69
43
60
220
22
1,101
496
137
144
51
62
135
51
224
235
49
105
516
10
148
2,363
7,464 10,420
12,757
8,266
9,296
6,346
4,694
8,046
7,353
6,706
3,854
55
4,660
89,917
Sexual offences
Property offences
Embezzlement
48
Theft
Automobile theft
Other theft
Drug offences
Road traffic contraventions 5
Other offences
Total
221
218
90
280
1,011
160
415
367
166
248
183
197
3,563
1,560
1,961
768
691
1,827
533
568
1,446
1,811
644
427
707
218
134
13,295
10,418 13,296
14,824
10,026 12,961
7,634
6,208 10,890
10,187
7,980
4,976
3,014
34
218
5,341
118,007
SC stands for Supreme Court
No case for intentional homicide (attempted) in 2015
IC stands for Industrial Court
Table 8.5 - Drug offences convicted by type, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015
1
2015
401
303
486
11
27
15
12
40
15
270
256
207
407
Consumption
106
29
50
Other
12
Gandia
510
778
1,004
1,129
Importation
22
Cultivation
14
78
91
129
25
87
492
567
678
656
Consumption
131
182
187
Other
21
48
1,600
1,243
957
748
22
33
17
267
114
Possession (drugs & articles)
728
654
414
452
Consumption
410
178
121
68
Other
428
372
148
108
2,394
2,422
2,264
2,363
Drug offences
Heroin
Importation
2012
2013
284
Dealing
Possession (heroin & articles)
Dealing
Possession (gandia & articles)
Other drugs
Importation
Dealing
Total
1
Revised
*Not collected separately
49
2014
10. THE LEGAL AID UNIT

During the year 2015, for the Republic of Mauritius, some 3,184 applications for legal assistance
were received, of which 3,132 were for civil cases. The number of legal aid recipients at the
Supreme Court decreased by nearly 24% to 1,890 in 2015 from 2,472 in 2014. There were 1,715
recipients in 2015 with respect to matrimonial cases, 123 for other civil suits and 52 for criminal
cases (Table 9.1).
Nearly Rs 1,2 Million were spent for the year 2015 with respect to legal aid in the Republic of
Mauritius compared to the 2014 figure of Rs 1,1 Million.
11. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE OF THE JUDICIARY

For the first semester of 2015, the revenue collected (at the various courts of the Island of
Mauritius and Island of Rodrigues) stood at around Rs 116 Million (provisional) (Table 10.1).
For the same period, the expenditure of the Judiciary for the Republic of Mauritius was estimated
at around Rs 246 Million (provisional) with 96% for actual recurrent expenditure (Rs 235
Million) and the rest (4%) for capital expenditure (Rs 11 Million).
50
Table 9.1 - Legal aid assistance - applications received, services granted and amount paid Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
4,788
6,317
3,498
3,132
4,707
6,024
3,175
2,985
1,985
2,279
2,430
1,838
1,879
2,140
2,272
1,715
21
19
42
52
985,995
1,589,687
1,144,375
1,179,968
Civil
Received
of which matrimonial
Granted
of which matrimonial
Criminal1
Received & granted
Amount paid (Rupees)
Table 10.1 - Revenue collected from courts, Republic of Mauritius,

2012 - 2014 & January to June 2015
2012
2013
2014
January to June
2015
Fines
255,553,758
277,466,327
294,655,628
93,039,442
Other2
53,630,312
50,357,032
46,167,681
23,008,493
Total
309,184,070
327,823,359
340,823,309
116,047,935
Table 10.2 - Expenditure of the Judiciary, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2014 &
January to June 2015
2012
Capital1
2013
2014
January to June
2015
1,007,046
30,719,139
26,897,557
10,982,033
Recurrent
345,068,522
424,662,702
459,169,282
234,519,674
Total
346,075,568
455,381,841
486,066,839
245,501,707
Source: The Judiciary & Central Administration, Rodrigues (Finance Unit) and Court of Rodrigues
1
Refers to Island of Mauritius
Other includes court, ushers and other miscellaneous fees
51
Table 11.1 - Staff of the Judiciary, Republic of Mauritius, 2014 & 2015
2014
2015
Job title
Male
Female
Total
Male
Female
Total
Chief Justice
Senior Puisne Judge
11
19
18
Judge in Bankruptcy & Master and Registrar
Deputy Master and Registrar & Judge in Bankruptcy
President, Intermediate Court (Civil & Criminal sides)
President, Industrial Court
1
Vice President, Intermediate and Industrial Courts
Magistrate Intermediate Court
10
Senior District Magistrate
15
16
12
12
District Magistrate
15
11
20
Judicial Research Officer
Secretary to Chief Justice
Chief Registrar1
Deputy Chief Registrar2
Senior Registrar/Regional Court Administrator
Adviser3
Chief Court Officer/Court Manager
21
21
22
22
Principal Court Officer
26
26
30
30
Senior Court Officer
37
37
74
35
38
73
Court Officer and Trainee Court Officer
22
79
101
17
71
88
Chief/Principal Court Usher
10
10
10
10
Senior Court Usher/Court Usher
49
55
61
69
Senior Law Librarian/Law Librarian
Senior Law Library Officer
Law Library Officer/Assistant
Senior Transcriber
Transcriber
Other Supporting Staff
100
113
213
107
116
223
Total
306
300
606
321
300
621
Puisne Judge
Includes acting appointment in 2014
New post as from 2015
On contract
52
Table 11.2 - Court rooms by type of court, Republic of Mauritius,

2012 - 2015
2012
2013
2014
2015
10
10
10
11
Family Court
Commercial Court
Intermediate Court
11
11
10
11
Industrial Court
Bail & Remand Court
District Courts
(Island of Mauritius)
23
24
23
28
52
53
51
58
Court
Supreme Court1
Court of Rodrigues
Total
Only 9 of the 10 court rooms of the Supeme Court operational from 2012 to 2014
Table 11.3 - Private legal practitioners (practicing Barristers, Attorneys and Notaries),
Practicing Barristers
2012
2013
2014
2015
Male Female Total
Male Female Total
Male Female Total
Male Female
Total
364
189
553
392
182
574
410
216
626
428
229
657
18
18
18
18
16
16
16
16
101
55
156
100
62
162
97
62
159
98
64
162
18
19
17
19
17
19
17
19
44
19
63
44
20
64
43
23
66
44
23
67
of whom
Queen's Counsel
Senior Counsel
Practicing Attorneys
of whom
Senior Attorneys
Practicing Notaries
53
Annex I
SUPREME COURT LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICE
This report and the following are available at http://supremecourt.govmu.org:
1. The Laws of Mauritius
2. Judgments of the Supreme Court and the Privy Council
3. Judgments of the Masters Court
4. Judgments of the District Courts
5. Judgments of the Industrial Court
6. Judgments reported in the Mauritius Reports as from 1861
7. Acts, regulations and proclamations
8. Students theses
9. Directory of the legal professionals
10. News of the Judiciary
11. Weekly cause lists of all courts
12. Links to law websites
13. Examination papers - Barristers/Attorneys/Notaries
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. C. Bandinah (Statistician)
Ms. R. B. Dulloo (Senior Statistical Officer)
Statistics Unit, The Judiciary
Tel: 213-3055
Emails: cbandinah@govmu.org
: rdulloo@govmu.org
: sm-cjs@govmu.org
Annex II
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
1.
Absolute discharge is complete and unconditional release.
2.
Acquitted is defined as a determination by the Court that a defendant is not guilty of the
charge(s) on the grounds that the charge has not been proven and/or due to lack of
evidence or no evidence given by the prosecution.
3.
Adjudicated is defined as the outcomes of the judgment or decision by the Court as to

whether or not the defendant is guilty of the charge(s) laid against him. These outcomes
include: acquitted (dismissed), guilty finding and guilty plea.
4.
Assault is physical attack against the body of another person.
5.
Burglary is the unlawful entry into someone elses premises with the intention to
commit a theft.
6.
Case is one or more defendants against whom one or more charge(s) have been laid and
which are heard together by a Court as one unit of work. The charge(s) usually relate to
the same criminal incident.
7.
Community Service Order is a sentence requiring an offender to perform unpaid

Community work.
8.
Conditional discharge is a sentence whereby an offender is released under certain

conditions, e.g. regular reporting to police stations for a specified period of time.
9.
Contraventions (least serious offences) are defined as offences that are punishable by:
a) imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 days;
b) fine not exceeding 5,000 rupees.
10. Criminal case is a case dealing with an offender indicted for an offence as defined by
the law.
11. Custodial Orders are sentences imposed on a defendant that require detention, e.g.
correctional or rehabilitation institutions, etc.
12. Drug offences are as spelt out under the Dangerous Drug Act 2000. They relate mainly
to drugs like gandia, heroin, hashish, opium, cocaine and other psychotropic substances.
13. Embezzlement is defined as the wrongful appropriation of another persons property
that is already in the possession of the person doing the appropriating.
14. Fraud is defined as the acquisition of another persons property by deception.
15. Intentional homicide is defined as death deliberately inflicted on a person by another
person, including infanticide and abortion.
16. Interim Protection Order is an order that is issued when the victim spouse or child or
any other person living under the same roof, requires urgent protection from the
perpetrator.
17. Jurisdiction is defined as the legal power or authority which may be exercised by a
particular court level and within which the judgments or orders of the court can be
enforced or executed. Each court level has its own defined jurisdictional limits.
18. Juvenile is defined as a person aged from 12 to 17 years inclusive.
19. Non-adjudicated is the formal withdrawal of charge(s) by the Prosecution (e.g. police,
Director of Public Prosecutions or Attorney-General) or by the courts; it includes Nolle
Prosequi and struck out.
20. Non-Custodial Orders are sentences imposed on a defendant that do not require
custody and include e.g. Community Service Orders, Probation Orders, Conditional or
Absolute Discharge Orders, licence disqualification/suspension, etc.
21. Occupation Order is an order that grants the victim the exclusive right to live in the
residence belonging to him, to the perpetrator or to both of them. It may last for a period
not exceeding 24 months.
22. Probation Order is a sentence whereby an offender is placed under the supervision of a
probation officer for a period not less than one nor more than three years.
23. Property offence includes theft, fraud, embezzlement, damage to property and illegal
possession of property and stolen goods.
24. Protection Order is an order which prevents the spouse from engaging in any further
act of violence; orders him/her to be of good behaviour and lasts for a period not
exceeding 24 months.
25. Proven guilty is defined as an outcome of criminal proceedings in which a court accepts
that a charge is proven through a guilty plea entered by a defendant or the defendant is
found guilty by the court. In the Magistrates' and Children's Courts, this includes
defendants found guilty.
26. Revocation Order is when either party (victim or perpetrator) may apply to the court
for a revocation of a Protection Order which is already in force.
27. Robbery is the theft of property from a person, overcoming resistance by force or threat
of force.
28. Sexual offence is defined as sexual intercourse or assault without valid consent.
29. Tenancy Order is an order which gives the victim the exclusive use of the house which
one or both partners are renting. Before issuing a Tenancy Order the Magistrate has to
hear the partners, the witnesses, the landlord and all those who have an interest in the
house.
30. Theft is defined as the removal of property without the property owners consent.

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Republic of Mauritius

JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT

Honourable Kheshoe Parsad MATADEEN

Honourable Marc France Eddy BALANCY

The Supreme Court Organisation Chart

Senior Puisne Judge

Deputy Master & Registrar

Secretary to the Chief Justice

Deputy Chief Registrar

1.1 - All cases at the Supreme Court, 2012 - 2015

1.3 - Offences disposed of by type of offence at the Criminal Division of the

1.4 - Appellate Jurisdiction at the Supreme Court, 2012 - 2015

1.5 - Civil cases at the Supreme Court, 2012 - 2015

1.6 - Divorce cases, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015

1.7 - Divorces/Judicial separations pronounced by number of children involved in

5.1 - Cases at the Weekend Court, 2014 & 2015

6.2 - Criminal cases at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015

6.3 - Civil cases at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015

6.5 - Small Claim Procedure at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015

6.6 - State debts cases at the District Courts, 2012 - 2015

Cases (civil and criminal) in the Republic of Mauritius

7.1 - Total cases, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015

7.2 - Total criminal cases, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015

7.3 - Total civil cases, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015

Staff of the Judiciary and court rooms

11.2 - Court rooms by type of court, Republic of Mauritius, 2012 - 2015

Private Legal Practitioners

1.5b - Cases disposed of at the Supreme Court, 2014 & 2015

1.9 - Divorces/Judicial separations pronounced by duration of marriage (years),

Cases (civil and criminal) in the Republic of Mauritius

Supreme Court Library and Information Service

1.2 VISION & MISSION STATEMENTS OF THE JUDICIARY

1.3 STRATEGIC DIRECTION, KEY ACTIONS AND HUMAN RESOURCE

Key Actions for 2015/2016

Human Resource Allocation

The Judiciary has 703 funded positions for 2015/2016.

1.5 SUPREME COURT

Judicial Conduct, Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC)

Civil Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court as Court of first instance

The Supreme Court hears and determines:

(d) The Mediation Division

The Criminal Division of the Supreme Court (Assizes)

Appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

Court of Civil Appeal

Court of Criminal Appeal

1.6 THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL

(b) Criminal Jurisdiction

THE INSTITUTE FOR JUDICIAL AND LEGAL STUDIES (IJLS)

The Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies promotes:

international exchanges and co-operation with other jurisdictions in the field of

THE RULES COMMITTEE

The Criminal Division of the Supreme Court (Assizes)

Table 1.1 - All cases at the Supreme Court, 2012 - 2015

Cases outstanding at the end

Cases outstanding at the end

Trial without Jury

Wounds and blows causing death without

Aiding & abetting in the commission of a crime

Trial without Jury

A case may comprise one or more offences

Dismissed/Struck Out/Nolle Prosequi

Non intentional homicide

A case may comprise one or more offences

Table 1.4 - Appellate Jurisdiction at the Supreme Court, 2012 - 2015