MPs commence extraordinary session with discard of civil procedures amendments

AMMAN — The Lower House on Sunday, during the first meeting of its extraordinary session, rejected the 2019 amendments to the Civil Procedures Law, under which private companies are allowed to provide notification of judicial action, arguing that the bill is skewed towards benefitting “certain parties”.

During the session, chaired by Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh and attended by Prime Minister Omar Razzaz and Cabinet members, Justice Minister Bassam Talhouni defended the bill, stressing that "the amendments were made to improve the notification process in certain cases", and that carrying out notifications through private companies “is not new”.

The MPs also struck down the bill on repealing the 1953 Crafts and Industries Law No. 16, recommending that the 1953 legislation remains in effect for six more months to give the government a chance to issue alternative resolutions and regulations, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Meanwhile, the draft laws for mediation for settling civil disputes and cybersecurity were referred to the Lower House's Legal Committee, along with the amendments to the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Law.

The deputies also tasked a joint legal and labour committee with studying the amended social security law, while the amended restructuring governmental institutions and departments law was referred to the Administration Committee and the amended standards and metrology law to the House’s Economy and Investment Committee.

The amendments to the law of Jordanian universities, higher education and scientific research was referred to the Education Committee, according to Petra.

A Royal Decree was issued last month summoning Parliament to convene for an extraordinary session as of Sunday.