Jakarta – Indonesia's government will remove the chiefs of all five district courts in Jakarta and reassign almost 70 per cent of judges to other areas as it mounts a campaign to clean up its much-criticised court system.

The campaign starts in Jakarta, with an aim to replace the current judges with the best recruits from remote areas," Justice Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said. "The intention is to fulfil the public's demand to reform the court system."

He said he would consult the Supreme Court, the institution that supervises judges, on the plan, which is also likely to affect seven out of every 10 judges in the capital.

Mr Yusril said that further discussion with the Supreme Court had been scheduled for next week. "We are also going to discuss the presence of 'ad hoc' judges in the commercial court," Mr Yusril added.

Indonesia has five types of courts: civil, military, state administrative, religious, and commercial. "We have yet to make certain regulations for the commercial court. We are trying to officially inaugurate the judges for the commercial court on April 15," the minister said.

The Supreme Court, in February, suggested that four individuals be appointed as "ad hoc judges" but they have yet to be inaugurated. Attorney-General Marzuki Darusman announced last week the the government was moving ahead with the "ad hoc" judges concept as part of efforts to not only clear the backlog of commercial and civil cases now awaiting trial – but to also improve the image of the legal system.

His disclosure of the appointment appeared to be part of the government's strategy to convince the global community that Jakarta was committed to instituting reforms of the legal and court systems demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Under the plan for "ad hoc" judges, the government will look to industry experts or academics – untainted by association with the previous government – to serve on the bench.

The capital's reform campaign is likely to affect seven out of every 10 judges in Jakarta. Jakarta is considered the most lucrative area for postings in the judicial system. Observers believe most Jakarta judges will resist moves to other areas as it will affect their incomes.