Subordinate courts: No cases filed at four new green courts

LAHORE:

Not a single case has been filed to the subordinate green courts set up on the Lahore High Court’s orders two months ago, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Senior Civil Judge Chaudhry Farrukh Hussain is entertaining two environment-related petitions, but these were filed in 2005. No new cases is being entertained by the other green courts of Judicial Magistrate Malik Shafique at the Cantonment Courts and Judicial Magistrate Liaqat Ali Ranjha at the Model Town Courts, and the main green court headed by District and Sessions Judge Muhajid Mustaqeem Ahmed.

Asked why no cases had been filed at the subordinate green courts, environmental lawyer Ahmed Rafay Alam said he believed it was because there was confusion about whether claims should be pursued in the courts or at the provincial environmental tribunal.

“Environment-related cases should be entertained at one venue. I think the district and session judges should entertain such cases rather than the provincial tribunal,” he said.

Senior Civil Judge Hussain said he did not know why environment-related petitions had not been filed at his courts. He said he thought there was sufficient public awareness about environmental issues.

The Lahore High Court has also set up green benches, one of which is hearing a petition against the dumping of untreated waste in the River Ravi.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2012.