Uzbekistan Finalizes Draft Law on Constitutional Court

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has virtually completed drafting a new law designed to comprehensively regulate the activities of the Constitutional Court, with plans to submit the document to parliament shortly, UzDaily.uz reported.

Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, Chairman of the Constitutional Court, announced the development during an interview with the Uzbekistan 24 television channel following a meeting between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the heads of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, and the Supreme Judicial Council. The meeting addressed the "Justice 2030" Strategy and further directions for judicial and legal reforms, with a focus on human rights protection and resolving existing shortcomings within the judicial system.

According to Abdusalomov, work on the bill is being conducted jointly with scholars and the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, taking into account the views of foreign specialists. He noted that legislation governing the court is being revised for the third time in ten years, following changes in 2017 and 2021. One related law aimed at improving the court's activities has already been passed and is currently under consideration by the Senate.

The comprehensive bill covers all court operations, aiming to protect human rights, ensure the supremacy of the Constitution and laws, improve efficiency, and make the court more open and accessible to citizens.

In January 2024, the Constitutional Court gained the authority to issue rulings on the conformity of referendum issues with the Constitution. The term of office for Constitutional Court judges was also extended from five to ten years.

As a permanent body of judicial power, the court reviews the constitutionality of legislative and executive acts, including laws, parliamentary decisions, presidential and governmental acts, local authority decisions, and international obligations. It also evaluates constitutional laws before presidential signing, reviews Karakalpakstan's legislation, officially interprets constitutional and legal norms, and reviews citizen and corporate complaints regarding laws applied in specific court cases.