Justice system: Bar-Bench cooperation sought for reforming justice system

LHC CJ inaugurates IT projects at sessions court

LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Saturday stressed the need for collaboration between the Bar and the Bench to reform the justice system in the province.

He was addressing the judicial officers and representatives of the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) after inaugurating several Information Technology projects started by District and Session Judge Nazir Ahmed Gajana.

Shah said justice should be provided to the litigants without any undue delay. He said sincere and wholehearted efforts by the lawyers’ community were needed for the purpose.

He said every honest and hard working lawyer and judge would find him on their side.

“There can be no room in the justice system for unprofessional judges and lawyers if we want to address the concerns of the masses,” he said.

The LHC CJ urged the lawyers to take appropriate steps against the black sheep that were bringing a bad name to the community.

He said he believed in the policy of transparency and openness and assured the gathering that he would take up with the authorities concerned the issue of an increase in the budgetary allocation for the courts.

He said improvements were needed in the justice system to reduce the adjournments of case hearings.

Shah praised Judge Gajana for introducing IT-related reforms in the sessions’ courts.

The projects inaugurated on Saturday were about automation of case record and installation of a video-link system.

The new system would allow lawyers to attend case hearings through video-links.

A public information centre set up at the court premises would provide information about judges and court employees.

The chief justice also inaugurated an e-visitation room. Children of divorced couples would be able to use the facility to hold meetings through video-link with a parent living abroad.

Later, the chief justice held a video conference with three accused held at the Central Jail. One of them who identified himself as Abdul Wahab said there had been no decision in his case for about a year.

The chief justice assured him that he would look into the matter and ensure a speedy trial.

He also announced a Rs50,000 prize for Shahzada Nadeem, computer operator at the sessions court, and Rs30,000 for Humaira Yousaf, data operator at sessions court, for overseeing the IT projects

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2016.