CJP reviews reforms in judiciary

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa chairs NJPMC meeting

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khan Khosa on Monday said the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) being a statutory body had taken up the task of reforming the justice sector.

In this context, he added, model courts had also been established throughout the country.

He said the initiative had proven successful with respect to providing speedy disposal of cases.

“No stone will be left unturned for providing expeditious justice to general public which is also a constitutional requirement,” the chief justice said while chairing a meeting of the NJPMC.

Hayat Ali Shah, Director General, FJA, presented the Expeditious Justice Initiative-II (EJI-II) regarding strategy for establishment of the Model Civil Appellate Courts (MCAC) and the Expeditious Justice Initiative-III (EJI-III) regarding strategy for establishment of the Model Trial Magistrate Courts (MTMC) before the committee.

He stated that under the EJI-II, it was proposed that the MCAC may be introduced in all districts of Pakistan.

In this regard, respective high courts may nominate presiding officers/additional district Judges. He stated that initially, the MCAC would be entrusted with appeals against orders, civil revisions, appeals in rent and family cases.

Justice system not among govt's priorities: CJP Khosa

The nominated judicial officers would be entrusted with 100 old cases at a time, he added.

He said the office would be responsible for scrutiny of appeals at the time of the institution for any deficiency. Moreover, the judges would conduct a preliminary hearing for settling all technical and legal issues.

The courts would effect service through modern devices and the scheduling conference would be held on the day respondent appears, he added.

The DG FJA said no adjournment would be granted and miscellaneous application to be decided before the final decision except where the disposal merits in the final judgment.

Record in appeals against orders and revisions would not be requisitioned and certified copies would be attached, moreover, judgment would be announced not later than three days after conclusion.

He further stated that under the EJI-III, the Model Trial Magistrate Courts (MTMC) were proposed to be established in all districts.

He said MTMCs would consist of pre-trial magistrate who would conduct all pre-trial proceedings and trial magistrates who would only conduct trial.

The MTMC shall be presided by magistrate empowered under Section 30 CrPC in each district/sub division according to work load, he added.

He said the MTMC would be assigned 100 cases at a time and initially only old hurt cases would be assigned although the district and sessions judge may allocate any category of cases.

The MTMC would summarily announce judgment in case of plea of "No Contest" otherwise the trial scheduling would take place.