Judicious advice: Give decisions without any fear or favour

Lahore High Court’s chief justice tells judges to avoid ‘groupings’

JHELUM: Trial judges must show empathy towards the general public, but that does not mean that judges should stop deciding cases on merit.

“Do not give in to any pressure and decide cases on merit,” said Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah while addressing judges at the Jhelum Sessions Courts on Monday.

He said that courts are here to give justice to the people and that a strong judicial system would ensure quick justice for the people. Hence, he urged judges to take impartial decisions without fear or favour and avoid any groupings.

“It is a great duty to decide [cases]… we must realise the burden of this responsibility when we sit on the chair with the hammer and gavel to solve issues of the people,” he said while urging trial court judges to show empathy towards the general public.

“These people [general public] look up to you for justice against whatever wrong they have suffered,” Punjab’s top judge said as he called upon the judges to develop a sense of serving humanity.

He urged judges to give up ‘groupings’ and to take decisions on merit. It should be noted that judges come from the legal fraternity which is divided across political and ideological lines.

Reminding that justice delayed is justice denied, he urged the judges of sessions courts to decide cases within the stipulated time and avoid prolonged litigations.

He also advised judges to develop an interest in modern technology, learn about IT, and to do research before taking decisions. Moreover, he urged judges to try and improve the working environment. Referring to the performance of district courts, the LHC chief justice said that they would monitor the output of all courts and ascertain the number of cases decided by each judge.

As an incentive, Justice Shah said that the judge deciding the most number of cases would be acknowledged.

Former Supreme Court’s justice Fazal Karim, LHC Registrar Khursheed Rizvi accompanied Justice Shah, whereas, Jhelum District Court Judge Yousuf Aujla, additional district and sessions judges, civil judges, and court officials were present at the meeting. Later, while addressing court officials in the lawn of Jhelum District Courts, the LHC chief justice assured them that their issues would be resolved.

He, however, told the court officials to serve the people who came to the courts in search of justice.

“Facilitate the people instead of creating more problems for them,” he said. “Do your job as if it was a service to humanity,” the top judge of Punjab told court officials.

During his visit, Justice Shah also laid the foundation stone for a library at the Jhelum District Courts. He also planted a tree.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2017.