Condition of district courts ‘appalling’, says IHC
Reserves verdict on a plea filed over state of Sector F-8 Kuchery
PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday reserved its judgment on petitions filed on the condition of the capital’s district courts in the Sector F-8 Kuchery and the unpaid rent for space acquired for courtrooms in a commercial plaza.
Hearing petitions filed over the lack of facilities in the district and family courts of the federal capital and non-payment of rent for courtrooms established in a commercial plaza, a single-member bench of the IHC — comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah — said that it seems everyone responsible has shut their eyes to the state of the district kuchery. He added that the condition of the courts has become appalling over the past four decades.
The IHC chief justice had ordered to merge all applications filed in this regard, with most of them filed by members of Islamabad Bar Council (IBC).
During Friday’s hearing, the court stated that the authorities have paid no attention to the condition of the district courts since its establishment in 1980.
"Usually people from the middle and lower-income groups visit the district courts," he said. adding, "the executive will learn about its condition if only they visit it."
The counsel for one of the petitioners told the court that for the past three years, the rent for courtrooms established in a commercial plaza has not been paid. These courtrooms, he said, were rented as a stop-gap measure until the building of Islamabad Judicial Complex was constructed.
At this, the court remarked that it should also be considered that under what conditions the judges were performing their duties there. He added that stakeholders are facing numerous difficulties while performing their duties in makeshift courtrooms.
After the conclusion of arguments from all parties, the court reserved its verdict and said that it had combined all petitions and will announce its decision on all of them.
IHC on Friday also sought a report from the Islamabad Police on the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to control the spread of the novel coronavirus at police stations.
Chief Justice Minallah heard the petition filed by Chaudhry Akram. During Friday’s proceeding, the bench asked whether the deputy commissioner had visited police lockups - locally called 'Bakhshikhana' - to review how precautionary steps were being adopted at police stations for the protection of inmates, the chief justice asked. He further asked how were social distancing and face mask guidelines were being ensured in police lockups. The prosecutor told the court that the deputy commissioner used to visit lockups of various precincts to review arrangements.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 13th, 2020.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday reserved its judgment on petitions filed on the condition of the capital’s district courts in the Sector F-8 Kuchery and the unpaid rent for space acquired for courtrooms in a commercial plaza.
Hearing petitions filed over the lack of facilities in the district and family courts of the federal capital and non-payment of rent for courtrooms established in a commercial plaza, a single-member bench of the IHC — comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah — said that it seems everyone responsible has shut their eyes to the state of the district kuchery. He added that the condition of the courts has become appalling over the past four decades.
The IHC chief justice had ordered to merge all applications filed in this regard, with most of them filed by members of Islamabad Bar Council (IBC).
During Friday’s hearing, the court stated that the authorities have paid no attention to the condition of the district courts since its establishment in 1980.
"Usually people from the middle and lower-income groups visit the district courts," he said. adding, "the executive will learn about its condition if only they visit it."
The counsel for one of the petitioners told the court that for the past three years, the rent for courtrooms established in a commercial plaza has not been paid. These courtrooms, he said, were rented as a stop-gap measure until the building of Islamabad Judicial Complex was constructed.
At this, the court remarked that it should also be considered that under what conditions the judges were performing their duties there. He added that stakeholders are facing numerous difficulties while performing their duties in makeshift courtrooms.
After the conclusion of arguments from all parties, the court reserved its verdict and said that it had combined all petitions and will announce its decision on all of them.
IHC on Friday also sought a report from the Islamabad Police on the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to control the spread of the novel coronavirus at police stations.
Chief Justice Minallah heard the petition filed by Chaudhry Akram. During Friday’s proceeding, the bench asked whether the deputy commissioner had visited police lockups - locally called 'Bakhshikhana' - to review how precautionary steps were being adopted at police stations for the protection of inmates, the chief justice asked. He further asked how were social distancing and face mask guidelines were being ensured in police lockups. The prosecutor told the court that the deputy commissioner used to visit lockups of various precincts to review arrangements.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 13th, 2020.