Judicious decisions: SHC CJ - competency will be preferred when naming judges

‘Bar associations are cornerstones of the legal system’.

KARACHI: Only competent people will be considered for the appointment as judges across the province to end the shortage, said Sindh High Court Chief Justice Mushir Alam Friday.

Justice Mushir said that a new mechanism for the appointment of the judged had been prepared under Article 175-A of the Constitution. Thirteen people will approves the names of lawyers for the appointment of judges.

He said that difficulties were being faced because of the shortage of judges in high courts. But, he added, finding competent, dedicated and honest persons was a more difficult task.

“Let us give a chance to the new system. I assured that only competent persons will be considered and appointments will be on the basis of merit. I assure you that we will appoint the best among the best,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at the annual dinner hosted by the SHC Bar Association on Thursday.

Justice Mushir Alam said that the bar associations were the cornerstones of the legal system and lawyers equally bear a responsibility along with judges to uphold the independence of the judiciary, the rule of law and dispensation of justice to litigants.

He urged the office bearers of the SHCBA to suggest more names of lawyers for elevation to end the persisting shortage.

The president of the SHCBA, Anwar Mansoor Khan, said that the acute shortage had created problems for sitting judges who had to deal with a number of cases regularly and had to work beyond official working hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th,  2011.