Call for promoting ADR to reduce litigation burden
PHOTO: EXPRESS
The National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC) has urged the high courts to take initiatives for promoting Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) to reduce the burden of unnecessary litigation on the courts.
The committee’s meeting, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial at the Supreme Court here on Friday, noticed that lack of proper training, professionalism of police and prosecutors are the key factors in the underperformance of the criminal justice system.
It resolved that the specialised cadre of investigation in police department, strengthening of prosecution department, its coordination with investigation department will improve the process of prosecution of cases.
The committee also reviewed the gender-based violence statistics, emphasising on the establishment of dedicated courts for trial of such cases.
The NJPMC examined the performance of justice sector institutions, including judiciary, police, prosecution, prisons and Special Courts and Administrative Tribunals, with regard to pendency of cases, convictions and acquittals and submissions of challans, appeals and jail conditions etc.
The Federal Board of Revenue was directed to improve its capacity to extend efficient and proper assistance to the courts for disposal of revenue cases.
While chairing another meeting of the Governing Body (GB) of Access to Justice Development Fund (AJDF), CJP Bandial stressed upon the effective and efficient use of the fund for development of the district judiciary and for the courts at under-developed regions.
The GB approved public awareness strategy to improve the functionality of District Legal Empowerment Committees across the country in 124 districts for provision of free legal aid facility to the deserving litigants.
The GB also approved funding proposals of Rs38 million for the Judicial Academies and urged the High Courts to ensure provision of court related amenities and facilities to the female judicial officers, court staff, lawyers and litigants in each district on priority basis.
CJP Bandial also expressed that Saturday is the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) which will be celebrated around the globe and the core theme of this year ‘Dignity, Freedom and Justice for All’ directly relates with the mandate of NJPMC and AJDF.
He remarked that it is a matter of great pleasure that the Governing Body of AJDF allocated an amount of Rs1.4 billion for legal empowerment of underprivileged segments of the society and ensuring protection of human rights.
He said, “It is the prime duty of the judiciary to protect and defend the constitutional rights of the citizens.”
He stressed that although provision of speedy justice was focused on judiciary, but ‘justice for all’ is not only related to the judgments made in courts rather the dispensation of justice was a joint responsibility of all the justice sector institutions.
The criminal justice system of Pakistan like any other state “is inter-dependent on police, prosecution, judiciary and prisons etc”.
“All these institutions are required to work in close coordination for efficient working of the system for administration of justice.”
The meetings were attended by Federal Shariat Court’s Justice Dr Syed Muhammad Anwer as well as chief justices of all four provinces. The provincial inspectors general of police were also in attendance.