New judicial year: Fully functional Judicial Commission wins CJ endorsement

Performance report shows the commission has convened a total of 66 meetings.

ISLAMABAD:

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday lauded the Judicial Commission for becoming fully functional” and “fairly active” as he unveiled its performance report on the appointment of judges.

As per the report presented before the superior judiciary, the judicial commission had convened a total of 66 meetings. The first was a combined meeting of all members of the commission to settle modalities and formulate rules of procedure.



The remaining meetings were held for selection of judges of the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and the high courts.

“I am happy to say that the commission has become fully functional and is fairly active. Beyond that, perhaps, I may not go for the reason that the 18th Amendment is sub judice in the Supreme Court,” the chief justice said in his introductory remarks.

The Judicial Commission is a constitutional forum set up in the year 2010, following the adoption of 18th and 19th constitutional amendments by parliament.



Under the said amendment, Article 175A was added to the Constitution, which prescribed new procedure and provided for the establishment of a new forum for making the appointments of judges in the superior courts. The amendment broadened the mechanism for consultation in selecting judges.

Currently, the top hierarchy of judiciary is involved in the selection process together with the Attorney General of Pakistan, representatives of bar councils and provincial law ministers.

Through this mechanism, nine judges were elevated to the Supreme Court and six judges were appointed to the Federal Shariat Court.  The commission appointed 23 additional judges, extended the tenure of 23, and confirmed the appointment of 39 judges of Lahore High Court.



According to the report, the commission appointed 17 additional judges, extended the tenure of 15 judges and confirmed 10 as judges of Peshawar High Court.

It also appointed 19 additional judges, extended the tenure of 25 and confirmed the appointment of 11 judges of Sindh High Court.

Six additional judges were appointed seven were confirmed as judges of Balochistan High Court, while the tenure of four was extended.

The commission appointed five additional judges, extended the tenure of one, and confirmed six as judges in Islamabad High Court.

“All of you will agree that with each passing day the level of confidence in the judiciary is increasing and this fact can be authenticated by the figures of fresh institution,” the chief justice said.

He said he felt no hesitation in saying that the National Judicial Policy had played an important role in enhancing the confidence of people in the ability of courts for resolution of their disputes.

“The results of the policy are encouraging,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2013.