Need for more divisional benches

Letter June 27, 2016
With an increase in population, it is imperative to increase the number of courts

WAZIRABAD: In almost all district bar associations of Punjab, a strike lasting two days in an entire week is observed for the establishment of high court divisional benches. The chief justice of the Lahore High Court assured lawyers from different districts of Punjab, who gathered in Lahore in the last week of May, that by the middle of July, the higher judiciary will seriously look into the matter. Practical steps in this regard are still awaited. The concept of speedy and easy justice cannot come to fruition without easy access to higher courts. An aggrieved person thinks twice before filing a petition in the high court as it is far off and lawyers also demand high fees for labouring the whole day and waiting for an appearance in the court.

Moreover, with the increase in population, it is imperative to increase the number of courts of the lower judiciary as well as the higher judiciary. There should be, at least, a high court bench in each divisional headquarter, which will not only cater to the needs of adjacent districts but also reduce the burden from the Lahore-based high court. For now, the best working divisional benches can provide an impetus to the idea of more divisional benches, like that of the Bahawalpur bench. The Lahore High Court and the government departments concerned should take serious steps in this regard without further delay.

Zaheer Ahmed

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2016.

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