SHC transferring 24,000 civil cases to lower courts

SHC's acting chief justice says judicial appointments, promotions to follow due process

KARACHI:

Sindh High Court Acting Chief Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar on Wednesday said that a formal and structured procedure is in place for the appointment of judges in the subordinate judiciary. New appointments will be prioritised, after which promotions will be carried out accordingly.

He further revealed that approximately 24,000 civil cases are being transferred from the high court to the lower courts - a process he described as highly complex and logistically demanding. "Transferring such a large volume of cases is no easy task. However, the judiciary is committed to ensuring that the transition is smooth and efficient," Justice Ghaffar stated.

He made these remarks while inaugurating the newly established Legal Research Cell at the Sindh High Court. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Justices Zafar Ahmed Rajput, Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro, and Faisal Kamal Agha, as well as President of the Sindh High Court Bar Association Sarfraz Metlo, General Secretary Mirza Sarfraz, and several senior members of the legal fraternity.

Speaking to the media, Justice Ghaffar said the idea of the Research Cell was originally proposed by former Chief Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, and the groundwork for the project had already been laid before Justice Ghaffar assumed his current role. "Much like the inauguration of the media room earlier, I have only formally launched the Research Cell," he said.

Justice Ghaffar explained that prior to the establishment of this facility, judges often had to conduct extensive legal research on their own. "Research often requires time, resources, and collaboration. Now, with this cell in place, the process will become significantly more streamlined," he added.

He noted that initially, nine civil judges have been deputed to work in the Research Cell, and more appointments are expected. "In the future, each bench will have a dedicated research officer. This will not only improve the quality of judgments but will also serve as a learning opportunity for civil judges, enhancing their research and analytical capabilities."

The Acting Chief Justice acknowledged the shortage of civil judges and said steps were being taken to address this. "The services of civil judges are being utilised for the cell," he explained.

Justice Adnan Iqbal Chaudhry has been assigned the task of overseeing the transfer of civil cases to the lower courts. All relevant details have been uploaded to the high court's website," Justice Ghaffar assured.