LHC Posts: Petition filed for 20 new judges

Petitioner asked the court to direct the government to appoint 20 new judges.

LAHORE: A petition has been filed asking the Lahore High Court to direct the federal government to fill all 60 judges’ posts at the LHC. The petitioner, Advocate Syed Feroze Shah Gilani, submitted that according to Article 192 (1) of the Constitution, there should be 60 judges at the LHC. But the court currently has just 40 judges, leaving it 20 short, he said. The shortage meant that the backlog at the courts was building up and cases were not being disposed of for several years. Justice delayed is justice denied, he said, adding that access to justice was a fundamental right. He said that the government wasted lots of money  such as Rs90 billion on perks and privileges for the cabinet and Rs120 million the medical treatment of 15 dignitaries abroad – so it could find funds for filling the vacant posts at the LHC. He asked the court to direct the government to appoint 20 new judges.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2013.