Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎72r] (143/176)

85
84. Statistics for 1920-21.
(November 1, 1920-October 31, 1921.)
NATIVE COURTS.
525. Civil jurisdiction :—
n
Cases entered for
Trial.
Cases Disposed of.
Cases awaiting Trial
at end of Year.
1919-20.
1920-21.
1919-20.
1920-21.
1919-20.
1920-21.
Court of Appeal..
1,132
1,203
902
827
1,238
1.609
Central Courts—
Appeal
5,750
5,696
4,876
5,159
4,192
4,657
First Instance
6,513
7,049
4,675
5,969
5,709
6,824
Summary Courts
110,596
144,440
104,388
140,039
26,623
31,467
Cantonal Courts..
141,335
264.356
140,255
247,684
16,216
31,931
Total
265,376
422,744
255,096
399,678
53,978
76,488
526. It will be seen from the above figures that the civil work of the native
courts has considerably increased during the last year, as compared with the previous
year: 157,368 more new cases were entered for trial in 1920-21 than in 1919-20,
representing an increase of 59-3 per cent. Although general in all the courts, the
increase was more marked in the cantonal courts, where is amounted to 87 per cent.,
and in the summary courts, where is was 30-6 per cent.
527. This increase of civil cases is a natural result of the fall in the price of
cotton, and of the consequent financial stringency. It would certainly have attain'd
greater proportions, owing to the difficulty experienced by farmers in paying the
* rents due to landlords, had it not been for the promulgation of Law. No. 14 of 1921,
which provided for the institution of commissions for the purpose of fixing rents of
agricultural lands for the agricultural year 1920-21.
528. Criminal cases :—
New Cases.
Cases Disposed of.
Cases awaiting Trial at
end of Year.
1919-20.
1920-21.
1919-20.
1920-21.
1919-20.
1920-21.
Assize cases
3,539
3,591
3,583
3,610
82
63
Misdemeanours—
Appeal
27.628
27.603
26,078
27,364
5,035
5,274
First Instance*
87,151
83,887
84,285
85.128
19,033
17,792
Contraventions—
Appealt
3,293
3,824
3,089
3,780
405
449
First Instance:):
73,197
86,289
71,477
83,637
8,255
10,907
Total..
194,808
205,194
188,512
203.519
32,810
34,485
* Summary and Markaz misdemeanours. t Court of Appeal and Central Courts,
t Summary, Markaz and cantonal conventions.
529. The total of “real” offences {i.e., offences finally classified by the Parquet
as such) for the judicial year under review amounted to 263,036, against 253,098 in
1919-20, viz., an increase of 9,938 offences or 3-9 per cent. This total is divided into
8,676 crimes, 128,739 misdemeanours and 125,621 contraventions (besides 1,396
cantonal contraventions). As regards “ real ” crimes, there is a further increase
this year, the total being 8,676 as compared with 7.772 in 1919-20, viz., an increase of
904 crimes or 11-6 per cent. The most important increase comes under the heading
of arson (which shows an increase of 679 over the figures of the previous year), of
attempted homicide (131), of homicide (110), and of falsification (65). On the other
hand, cases of recidive of theft show a decrease of 133. Other crimes show only slight
variations although the proportional increase or decrease in some cases is rather
high, as may be seen from the following table : —
[9338] ‘ n