Open Session of Law Doctorate

On Monday, March 25, 2013, UPH Doctorate of Law held an open session for one of his lecturers, Meray Hendrik Mezak, S.H., M.H.. This was meant as a defence of his dissertation, titled ?Konsepsi Hak Penguasaan Negara Atas Tanah Menurut Konsitusi Indonesia? ? the conception of state?s rights to land possession as stated by the 1945 Constitution of Republic of Indonesia. It raised three issues as its problem statements, namely to re-examine ratio legis (the system of law) and the onthological foundation of land possession rights from the perspective of Indonesian Consitution, whether there is consistent practice of Article 33 Paragraph 3 of the 1945 Constitution, and legal certainty for owners of land possession rights.

Meray H. Mezak concluded in his writing that harmonisation of property law regulating state?s land possession has been in conformity with the ratio legis in effect, whereas, from the onthological foundation aspect, there were found practices inconsistent with the Consitution. There has been sufficient consistency in the implementation of Art. 33 Para. 3 of the 1945 Constitution towards legal certainty for property rights? owners of land procurement intended for developmental projects. However, the current situation emphasizes the need for regulating the limited definition of ?public interest? as to avoid ambiguous interpretations. In solving the third problem statement, it is suggested that the land titling practice in Indonesia renew its system to the ?Torrens title?.

The result of this defence was that the examiners passed Meray H. Mezak, S.H., M.H. as Doctor of Law with merit. He joins, according to Prof. Bintan Saragih (Dean of UPH Faculty of Law), the fourteen Doctors of Law previously graduating from UPH?s Doctorate programme, ?This is, without doubt, a prideful moment us UPH Law academia. Mr Mezak?s success means that the ratio between Doctor of Law and Master of Law has become equal in number. We will keep improving towards attaining the ideal proportion of 6:4 (6 Doctors and 4 Masters). This has contributed to UPH?s obtaining the highest accreditation. In the future, there are three potential candidates to graduate from UPH Law?s Postgraduate programme,? Prof. Bintan explained.

This open session defence was led by Dean of UPH Faculty of Law, Prof. Dr. Bintan Saragih, S.H., and a team of examiners: Prof. Dr. Valerine S.H., M.A. (promotor), Prof. Dr. Agus Suryadi, S.H., M.H. (co-promotor), Prof. Dr. Satya Arinanto, SH., MH., Dr. Abdul Rachman, SH., MH., Dr. Endang Pandamdari, SH., CN., MH., Dr. Eduard Izaak Hahuly, SH., LL., dan Dr. Henry Soelistyo Budi, SH., LLM., (Dean of UPH Law Postgraduate Programme).

The event lasted approximately two hours and was attended by Mr Mezak?s students, colleagues, and relatives.