Ignoring instructions: Lower courts take strict measures to ensure compliance of orders

Sub-inspectors to replace assistant sub-inspectors deputed in courts


Rana Yasif September 20, 2014

LAHORE: Police officials, not below the rank of sub-inspector, will now be deputed in courts hearing petitions under Sections 22A and 22B of the Criminal Code of Procedure (powers and duties of justice of peace) to make sure that court orders on those petitions are implemented, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The decision was taken this week at a meeting chaired by District and Sessions Judge Tariq Iftikhar Ahmed. The capital city police officer, the operations deputy inspector general and the investigations senior superintendent were present at the meeting. The decision is expected to be implemented in a few days.

A few weeks ago, the Lahore High Court directed Judge Ahmed to ensure that orders passed under Sections 22A and 22B were implemented. He was asked to submit a report on action taken on notices and warrants issued to the police process serving agency and a report on measures taken by the court.

The LHC took notice of an increasing trend of petitions filed in the LHC seeking compliance of orders passed by lower courts. Judge Ahmed was told that it was a common perception that most of the orders passed by judicial officers were not implemented. The LHC pointed out that the police process serving agency’s performance was not satisfactory.

Earlier assistant sub-inspectors were deputed at the lower courts to collect court orders. Hundreds of cases seeking registration of cases with police are heard by three of these courts daily. Often these orders would not be implemented by the police process serving agency and litigants would approach the LHC seeking compliance of those orders.

Participants at the meeting decided that sub-inspectors would replace the assistant sub-inspectors in the lower courts.

The sub-inspectors would convey the orders to the relevant police stations. They will also be asked to submit a weekly report in this regard. This will ensure that court orders are complied with immediately, Judge Ahmed said.

They also decided to make arrangements for a wireless room for the police process serving agency on court premises. Judicial officers would inform the superintendent at the room about the process to ensure attendance of witnesses and litigants. The superintendent will pass the messages and instructions to a wireless operator who would then contact the relevant police officers.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2014.

 

COMMENTS (1)

oBSERVER | 9 years ago | Reply

This is the kind of change Pakistanis would want to see. Lower Judiciary must establish its writ firmly without fear or favour. Well done our Judges of these courts.

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