After extensive discussions spanning several sessions, the Majlis Ashashura has finally given its go-ahead by majority vote to the new child law and a proposal to set up a Supreme Administrative Court.

In another significant development, members approved the formation of a new permanent committee for defence, security and foreign relations at the Majlis, its ninth, despite objections raised by the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

The draft child law was referred to the Majlis by the Council of Ministers. Members approved it after several rounds of deliberations and proposed a number of amendments. The draft will now be forwarded to the State Council, the upper chamber of parliament.

The issue of setting up of a Supreme Administrative Court was also debated at length and given the nod on Tuesday with a majority of members underlining it as an “important guarantee to correct and set right any errors of judgement” by the Administrative Court.

“The approval of the establishment of such a court came after realising an apparent conflict and contradiction between the principles and rules contained in the judgments of the appeal authority in the Administrative Court· All these have necessitated establishing a Supreme Administrative Court to lift this contradiction and instill confidence,” a spokesman for the 84-member Majlis explained. The proposal to form a new committee for defence, security and foreign relations was approved with 59 members voting for it and 13 opposing. The move had been strongly objected to by the Legal Affairs Ministry, which noted that the ministries in charge of defence, security and foreign affairs were “sovereign ministries” that did not come under the purview of the Majlis Ashashura.

The defence and foreign affairs ministries are headed by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, with their day-to-day work handled by two officials appointed by him — Minister Responsible for Defence and Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs.

Sultan Qaboos is also Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and the Royal Oman Police. He also heads the Defence Council.

ravindranath@khaleejtimes.com