Decide cases on merit, CJ tells judges

Says security will be ensured so that courts can give verdicts without fear.

LAHORE: Judges should decide cases on merit only and not under anyone’s pressure, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Shaikh Azmat Saeed said on Sunday. He was addressing a gathering of judges of district and sessions courts and civil courts in the province.

Justice Saeed said security for judges would be ensured.

He said judges should see to it that their decisions were consistent.

This, he said, would remove most of the lawyers’ grievances.  The chief justice said no compromise would be acceptable in dispensation of justice. “Injustice is even worse than kufr (disbelief),” he said. He said honesty was the only way for them to build a good rapport with the people and strengthen their confidence in judiciary.

He said while judges should not worry about false complaints, they should beware that malpractice would not be tolerated. Justice Saeed said steps would be taken to modernise the justice system in the province. He said a uniform policy would soon be introduced for transfers and postings and promotions.

He asked district and sessions judges to submit reports on problems faced at courts on district-level. He said all issues would be resolved in accordance with the national judicial policy.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2011.