CJP moves to lighten caseload burden

Reforms to be introduced to mitigate miseries of litigants

ISLAMABAD: Accepting the challenge of reducing huge pendency, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday decided to introduce judicial reforms to mitigate miseries of the litigants.

After several months of delay, the chief justice, being chairman of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), appointed Dr Abdul Rahim Awan as new secretary LJCP recently. The appointment is significant to introduce new reforms. Till December 15, 37,694 cases are pending in the apex court.



Likewise, the CJP has chaired a meeting on judicial reforms in the Supreme Court that was attended by Lahore High Court Chief Justice Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, officers of the Supreme Court, Lahore High Court and Law & Justice Commission of Pakistan. The chief justice took the briefing from Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on judicial reforms in Punjab.

Justice Shah gave an overview of the reforms recently brought in the provincial judiciary, especially in terms of delay reduction, minimisation of backlog, e-facilitations to public litigants and lawyers to ensure easy access to courts, introduction of information technology in courts so as to facilitate public, effective court and case management, promotion of ADRs (alternative dispute resolution), training of judges, law officers and staff, categorisation of courts, etc., to provide inexpensive and expeditious justice to the general public.

The chief justice praised recent reforms in the Punjab judiciary and treated it as a road map for the rest of the judiciary for which his lordship is also going to head all chief justices conference on Saturday (Jan 13) at the Supreme Court Branch Registry Karachi to take stock of overall performance of the judicial system, especially in terms of delays in the system.

The conference will also deliberate upon different ways and strategies to bring reforms, innovation and improvements to streamline smooth functioning of the current judicial system.

According to the official statement, the forum will also deliberate upon different aspects to make the Law & Justice Commission an effective body to lead the reforms of law and justice institutions to be fair and inclusive; strengthening organisational capacities and accountability to be effectively responsive to citizens' security and justice needs and wellbeing; and empowering citizens to assert their rights and claim their entitlements and exercise their duties and obligations.



Likewise, the chief justice has constituted benches in Supreme Court for a period of one month as part of judicial reforms to ensure expeditious disposal of cases and to facilitate litigants and lawyers to make their arrangements in advance.

Moreover, on every Friday two-member benches have been constituted to hear fresh petitions that are being filed in large numbers.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the chief justice has constituted a four-member bench, headed by himself to hear the PCO judges pleas on Friday against the issuance of contempt notice to them for violating November 3, 2007 restraining order and took oath under the PCO.

Legal experts are appreciating the chief justice to introduce reforms to overcome the miseries of litigants.