SCBA scheme: Four SC judges withdraw plot applications

ISLAMABAD: Some sitting judges of the apex court, who had applied for a residential plot in the Supreme Court Bar Association Housing Scheme (SCBAHS), have withdrawn their applications.

Sources in the SCBA revealed to The Express Tribune that there were four judges of the Supreme Court who applied for residential plots in the SCBA housing scheme; but withdrew their applications recently.

A senior official of the SCBA said Rs4 million has been reimbursed to each judge after submission of applications on their behalf. “Every judge mentioned different reasons for surrendering his plot,” he added.



Former SCBA chief Rashid A Rizvi has also confirmed that he received at least two applications of the SC judges for withdrawal of plots during his tenure. However, he said, no superior court judge applied for a residential plot during his tenure.

More than one dozen high court judges had applied for residential plots in the SCBA housing scheme but it was yet to be confirmed  whether or not they have withdrawn their applications.

Former SCBA secretary general Aftab Bajwa said it was an unwise decision of the previous executive body to permit superior court judges to apply for residential plots in the SCBA housing scheme.

However, the SCBA’s ex-president Ali Zafar defended his executive body’s decision to allow judges to apply for residential plot, saying every SCBA member was entitled to get a plot.

“Even the sitting and retired judges, who are members of the SCBA, can apply for a plot. It is not a simple allotment but applicants purchase the plots by paying money,” he said.



A section of lawyers believes that since the SC judges are already entitled to a plot from government, they cannot obtain any other plot from a housing scheme meant for government employees or the SCBA members.

They said after taking oath as an SC judge, they are no more part of or member of any association or body. When they are not a member of any body or bar association then how can they get or apply for a residential plot in a housing society for the members of the bar association, they questioned.

Former chief justice of Pakistan Jawwad S Khawaja was the only judge, who had refused to take government’s plot after his retirement.