Custody cases: Evening guardian courts set up in city
Evening courts aimed at saving children from an atmosphere of distress
PHOTO: INP
LAHORE:
Chief Justice Lahore High Court Muhammad Anwaarul Haq said on Friday evening that a court had been established to save children from an atmosphere of panic and distress.
He said this while inaugurating the first guardian evening court where criminals were brought to attend proceedings in different cases. The court was launched as the first pilot project aimed at saving children from an atmosphere where criminals were brought in handcuffs to attend proceedings.
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Stressing the need for national dialogue, CJ Haq emphasised making collective efforts towards dialogue, which according to him, was the panacea to all the issues. He made it clear that the issues of decades could not be resolved in the blink of an eye, but he made maximum efforts to resolve them from the very day that he assumed charge as the chief justice of the Lahore High Court.
He said the initiative to put all the decisions of the district courts on the internet was taken to keep litigants updated about the status of their cases. He said it was for the first time in the LHC’s history that a registrar was appointed unanimously.
He also stressed on the need to avoid uncalled for and unfair criticism over different issues, adding people spread rumours regarding the collapse of the system whenever a new project is launched. He said the courts were locked in the evening hours and morning courts were overcrowded with litigants. He said the evening court would help litigants in the form of an acceptable atmosphere for visiting children.
To this, senior Puisne Judge Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan lauded the decision taken by LHC CJ Justice to launch a pilot project of evening courts.
He said setting up such courts of such nature would help decreasing pendency and tension among women.
District and sessions judges, civil judges, bar representatives were present at the inaugural ceremony of evening court.
On November 3, LHC CJ Anwaarul Haq had issued a notification of the first pilot project of setting up an evening court to save children from the court’s atmosphere where handcuffed criminals along with police officials were a common sight. “It is an effort to keep our children away from an atmosphere of panic and distress,” he remarked.
The pilot project has been initiated from Lahore and the evening court would start its work from 2:00pm to 7:00pm. The notification revealed that it was the first pilot project in Lahore and would be extended to other districts if required for expeditious decision of family cases under the West Pakistan Family Courts Act 1964 and the Guardians and Wards Act 1890, to secure the welfare of the minors and further to protect the best interest of litigant public.
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The parents and children felt a little insecure when they visited the courts along with their children in a situation when courts were overcrowded with criminals, police officials and litigants. The CJ took the decision to set up a court for hearing family and child custody cases and provided them a secure atmosphere so that they could feel relaxed in the evening hours rather than the time when courts were overcrowded.
However, some litigants also complained about the congested meeting room where the children were allowed to meet their parents.
The parents also demanded to install new swings and other essentials near the courts where they could play with their children. They also suggested that there should be a shop inside the court premises to buy children toys and other stuff.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2018.
Chief Justice Lahore High Court Muhammad Anwaarul Haq said on Friday evening that a court had been established to save children from an atmosphere of panic and distress.
He said this while inaugurating the first guardian evening court where criminals were brought to attend proceedings in different cases. The court was launched as the first pilot project aimed at saving children from an atmosphere where criminals were brought in handcuffs to attend proceedings.
Jailhouse scholar : Convict secures second position in Darse Nizami exam
Stressing the need for national dialogue, CJ Haq emphasised making collective efforts towards dialogue, which according to him, was the panacea to all the issues. He made it clear that the issues of decades could not be resolved in the blink of an eye, but he made maximum efforts to resolve them from the very day that he assumed charge as the chief justice of the Lahore High Court.
He said the initiative to put all the decisions of the district courts on the internet was taken to keep litigants updated about the status of their cases. He said it was for the first time in the LHC’s history that a registrar was appointed unanimously.
He also stressed on the need to avoid uncalled for and unfair criticism over different issues, adding people spread rumours regarding the collapse of the system whenever a new project is launched. He said the courts were locked in the evening hours and morning courts were overcrowded with litigants. He said the evening court would help litigants in the form of an acceptable atmosphere for visiting children.
To this, senior Puisne Judge Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan lauded the decision taken by LHC CJ Justice to launch a pilot project of evening courts.
He said setting up such courts of such nature would help decreasing pendency and tension among women.
District and sessions judges, civil judges, bar representatives were present at the inaugural ceremony of evening court.
On November 3, LHC CJ Anwaarul Haq had issued a notification of the first pilot project of setting up an evening court to save children from the court’s atmosphere where handcuffed criminals along with police officials were a common sight. “It is an effort to keep our children away from an atmosphere of panic and distress,” he remarked.
The pilot project has been initiated from Lahore and the evening court would start its work from 2:00pm to 7:00pm. The notification revealed that it was the first pilot project in Lahore and would be extended to other districts if required for expeditious decision of family cases under the West Pakistan Family Courts Act 1964 and the Guardians and Wards Act 1890, to secure the welfare of the minors and further to protect the best interest of litigant public.
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The parents and children felt a little insecure when they visited the courts along with their children in a situation when courts were overcrowded with criminals, police officials and litigants. The CJ took the decision to set up a court for hearing family and child custody cases and provided them a secure atmosphere so that they could feel relaxed in the evening hours rather than the time when courts were overcrowded.
However, some litigants also complained about the congested meeting room where the children were allowed to meet their parents.
The parents also demanded to install new swings and other essentials near the courts where they could play with their children. They also suggested that there should be a shop inside the court premises to buy children toys and other stuff.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2018.