ISLAMABAD: The National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC) on Thursday decided not to close courts rather to keep them open at all levels. However, the judicial workload will be reduced.

The decision is aimed at reducing the number of people visiting courts so that they are not at any risk of getting infected by the novel coronavirus.

Presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed, a meeting of the NJPMC urged people not to unnecessarily visit court premises.

It was resolved that protocol of health and hygiene would be ensured and adopted. District courts will also reduce the work by hearing urgent matters and discouraging the entry of general public, as well as, ensuring screening tests of all people entering court premises. The meeting also resolved that no adverse order against any party would be passed in courts in default i.e. non-prosecution or ex parte order, etc.

The NJPMC meeting also directed that all prisoners should be protected from being exposed to the risk of coronavirus/infection without denial of their right of family meetings. But jail authorities will ensure precautionary measures and regulate the procedure of such meetings.

The committee deliberated upon likelihood of jail inmates’ exposure to coronavirus coming from outside. Therefore, people visiting jail premises should be examined and properly screened to avoid any threat of infection to prisoners. If any prisoner is found infected, the individual will be quarantined within jail premises.

The CJP observed that the judicial system will not be compromised and will not let it be derailed by getting panicked.

The committee resolved that the instructions and guidelines issued by the Supreme Court on the coronavirus pandemic will be adopted by all high courts, district and tehsil courts and the superior judiciary of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The NJPMC unanimously resolved to adopt all SoPs issued by the Supreme Court and which will be applicable on all the courts.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan of the Supreme Court has been nominated as focal judge being chairman of the Supreme Court Health and Safety Committee to ensure the implementation of the directions of the NJPMC.

The CJP observed that the apex court would take all necessary preventive measures for health and safety of judges, court staff, lawyers, litigants and other justice sector stakeholders up to the district and tehsil levels.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2020