Bill to Amend Constitution Introduced in Northern Cyprus to Speed Up Court Proceedings

A bill to amend the Constitution, aimed at accelerating the judicial system, has been submitted to the Republican Assembly by deputies from the National Unity Party (UBP), the Democratic Party (DP), and the Rebirth Party (YDP). The text of the proposal was published in the Official Gazette on March 12, 2026; following publication, physical and legal entities may submit written comments to the Presidency of the Assembly within 20 days.

The authors of the bill explain the need for the reform by the increased specialization of courts, the acceleration of decision-making processes, and the elimination of the accumulated backlog in the Supreme Court. It is proposed to increase the composition of the Supreme Court from one president and seven members to one president and ten members, raising the total number of judges from eight to eleven.

The project also provides for a transition to a three-tier judicial system for civil, criminal, and family cases: courts of first instance, courts of appeal, and the Court of Cassation as the third instance. The creation of district administrative courts and the redistribution of appellate powers of the High Administrative Court are planned. For a number of administrative cases, the High Administrative Court will act as a court of first instance consisting of a single judge; such decisions will be reviewed by a three-member appellate panel.

Furthermore, the bill introduces the possibility of awarding damages in administrative cases, which will allow for simultaneously establishing a violation of a right and recovering compensation. Legislators note that this will help address the observations of the European Court of Human Rights regarding matters related to the proceedings of the Immovable Property Commission.