‘Pay raise can best curb corruption’

Judges seek to clamp down on bribe-taking among court staff.

LAHORE:

While the chief judges of the Lahore High Court and District and Sessions Court seek to address complaints of petty corruption by court clerks, the staffers themselves say the best way to do this is to raise their salaries.

Acting on instructions from LHC Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, District and Sessions Judge Mujahid Mustaqim Ahmad oversaw the installation of a complaints box next to his courtroom on Monday.

“There is no room here for corrupt elements. They will not be spared if found to be fleecing the litigants,” Judge Ahmad told The Express Tribune.

He said that he would personally read the complaints received through the box and take prompt action to address them. “We can stop their promotions or hold departmental inquiries against officials who take bribes,” he said.

Asked their thoughts about the new complaints box, several staffers said that it would likely prove ineffective. “There is no need for it,” said one official. “Corruption can be controlled if salaries are increased. The salaries of the superior judiciary have been raised, but we have been ignored.”

Judge Ahmad said that he had had discussions with the LHC chief justice about raising staffers’ salaries and they would soon meet with Punjab government officials to raise the matter. “They are like my children and I believe their salaries should be raised,” he said. At least one litigant, Muhammad Imran, had hope that the complaints box would prompt staffers to be more ethical. But he added: “It’s important that the sessions judge has direct access to the complaints box, otherwise the staffers will avoid handing over the complaints to him.”

Petty corruption by court staff is a common experience for litigants. One of the most frequent complaints is that staffers will not serve citizens unless they are bribed. For example, getting a copy of your case file can be a frustrating experience unless Rs100 is handed to the clerk. Another common ‘favour’ that a clerk will grant a citizen who greases his palm is to schedule their case hearing to their convenience.

LHC directive

The LHC chief justice had sent out instructions to all district and sessions judges of Punjab titled ‘Eradication of corruption in the district courts establishment’. “The number of complaints of corruption by the staff of the district courts establishment is alarmingly high. It appears that effective measures have still not been adopted to curb corruption,” reads the chief justice’s letter.

He directs the judges to reshuffle court staff and police officials assigned to judicial officers in the province. “DSJs and senior civil judges shall remain available in their courts to attend the grievances and complaints of litigants. A complaints box under a lock shall be placed outside the courts,” it reads.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2011.