Effective from 25 April 2025, the Supreme Court of the Union has issued a comprehensive notification (Notification No.296/2025) clarifying and expanding the civil jurisdiction and administrative powers of courts and judges in Self-Administered Divisions, Self-Administered Zones, and Districts across Myanmar. This move aligns with Sections 63 and 64 of the Union Judiciary Law and revokes the previous notification (Notification No. 1030/2020) dated 28 December 2020.

Expansion of Jurisdiction

While the previous notification granted only District Courts the authority to decide original civil suits and exercise judicial powers as District Judges under existing laws, the new notification extends these powers to Self-Administered Division Courts, Self-Administered Zone Courts, and District Courts, granting them equivalent authority as District Civil Courts and District Civil Judges.

Jurisdiction Under the Urban Rent Control Act

Previously, only District Judges were authorized to decide petitions under Section 32(1) of the Urban Rent Control Act, 1960. However, the new notification extends this authority to Judges of Self-Administered Divisions and Zones in accordance with Section 64 of the Union Judiciary Law.

New Civil Suit Adjudication Thresholds

Prior to this change, District Judges and Associate District Judges could decide original civil suits up to 3 billion kyats, while Deputy District Judges were limited to 1.5 billion kyats. The new notification raises these thresholds, allowing District Judges, Self-Administered Division Judges, Self-Administered Zone Judges, and Associate District Judges to hear cases up to 5 billion kyats, while Deputy Judges at all levels can decide cases up to 3 billion kyats.

Civil Appeal and Revision Jurisdiction

The rules regarding appeals have been updated. Under the previous notification, District Judges were authorized to hear appeals from Township Courts, while Associate District Judges could hear appeals referred by District Judges. The new notification maintains this arrangement but explicitly includes Self-Administered Division and Self-Administered Zone Judges and extends the authority to Associate District Judges and Deputy Judges to hear civil appeals and revisions transferred by their senior judges.

Case Management Powers

Under both notifications, District Judges could recall cases assigned to other judges and either decide them personally or reassign them to another district-level judge. The new notification extends this authority to the Self-Administered Division and Self-Administered Zone Judges and allows the District, Self-Administered Division, or Self-Administered Zone Judges to delegate authority to another judge within their court if they are temporarily unable to preside.

Furthermore, the authority to transfer cases has also been expanded. While previously limited to District Judges, their associates, and deputies within a district, the new notification now allows case transfers between courts within a Self-Administered Division, Self-Administered Zone, or District by judges at all three levels, including their associates and deputies.

Revocation of Previous Notification

With the implementation of this new notification, Notification No. 1030/2020, issued on 28 December 2020, has been revoked.

This notification constitutes the Supreme Court of the Union’s official conferral of civil jurisdiction and judicial authority to Self-Administered Division Courts, Self-Administered Zone Courts, and District Courts, effective from 25 April 2025.

The information provided here is for information purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Legal advice should be obtained from qualified legal counsel for all specific situations.