Policy meeting: Retired judges asked to relinquish lower office posts

Advised to uphold dignity of judiciary; CJP calls for increase in judicial officers.

LAHORE:

The National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) has requested retired judges of superior courts to voluntarily relinquish their post-retirement positions in order to uphold ‘respect’ and ‘dignity’.

The committee, in a meeting held at Supreme Court Lahore registry on Saturday, expressed serious concern over the appointments of retired judges of superior courts on posts lower than their status and dignity.

The committee observed that retired judges should give up such lower offices to earn respect in public and uphold the principle of the independence of judiciary.

The committee also expressed its displeasure at what it termed the government’s lukewarm response over its recommendations to increase the number of judicial officers in order to cope with the increasing workload.

Chief Justice Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, presiding over the meeting, said, “On account of their (judges) performance, citizens have high expectations from the courts,” he said, adding that the judiciary was facing an increased number of cases because of this. He added that under the Constitution, the state was bound to ensure inexpensive and expeditious justice, whereas, the judiciary, being the custodian of the Constitution had to keep a check on arbitrary exercise of powers and promote rule of law in the country.

“We have made an effort to address the influx of cases and the national judicial policy was framed to meet the requirements of the litigant public,” he added.   The chief justice said that there had been complaints for the last few years. “Therefore, attention was paid not only to the administration of justice but also to clearing the backlog,” he said.

December 31, 2012, had been set as target for the disposal of all cases pending since 2008. This was achieved and 95% of cases were tackled on merit with the cooperation of bar members. Only 39 cases were pending in Balochistan.

The committee also took serious notice of the prevailing law and order situation and terrorist attacks on judicial officers and asked provincial governments to take all possible measures for protection of the judges. (With additional input from APP)


Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2013.