Ad-hoc judges: Judicial commission to meet on Saturday

Meeting summoned for consultation over term extensions of Justice Ramday, appointment of Justice (retd) Jafferey.

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has summoned a meeting of the judicial commission for consultation over the term extension of Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday and the ad-hoc appointment of Justice (retd) Rahmat Hussain Jafferey.

The commission, due to meet on Saturday, will also recommend the confirmation of nine additional judges of the Sindh High Court to the parliamentary committee on appointment of judges.

According to the newly-amended constitutional provisions, the reappointment of justices Ramday and Jafferey as ad-hoc judges of the Supreme Court will not require the parliamentary committee’s approval. However, the chief justice will have to send the proposal to the president with binding effect after consulting the judicial commission only.

The commission, which is chaired by Chief Justice Chaudhry, includes Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Shakirullah Jan, Justice Tassaduq Jilani, Justice Nasirul Mulk, Law Minister Babar Awan, Attorney-General Maulvi Anwarul Haq and representative of the Pakistan Bar Council Khalid Ranjha.

On Monday, a full court meeting chaired by the chief justice passed a resolution for a one-year extension in the term of Justice Ramday on an ad-hoc basis and the appointment of Justice (retd) Jafferey as an ad-hoc judge for two years. But on Tuesday, the Supreme Court cancelled the full court reference in honour of Justice Ramday on the eve of his retirement on February 17.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2011.