Pindi’s judicial staff recalled to courts today

Judges, lawyers, prosecutors, police, and litigants will have to wear masks, gloves

RAWALPINDI: After a gap of over two months, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered to resume hearings of regular cases in the lower judiciary and has summoned all officials back to their duties from today (Monday).

The hearing of regular cases in the district courts across the province will resume from June 1, but under the strict implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guard against the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

Earlier, lower courts in the 36 districts of the province were only hearing those cases which had been deemed to be of an emergency nature.

However, following the LHC’s orders, the hearing of regular cases will resume after over two-months.

Further, the courts including those of accountability, anti-terrorism, anti-corruption, anti-narcotics, and others will also restart adjudication of pending cases.

A set of SOPs has also been issued for the courts which will be obeyed during the working hours.

As per the SOPs issued by the District and Sessions Judge Chaudhry Tariq Javed, it will be mandatory for all duty judges, lawyers, prosecutors, police, and litigants to wear face masks and gloves.

The same precautionary guidelines will apply to the judicial staff. Nobody will be allowed to enter the courts without wearing safety gear.

The district and sessions judge also ordered to install sanitising walk-through gates at the entry points to the lower courts.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2020.