LAHORE: A day after taking oath of office, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan chaired a full court meeting on Saturday that resolved to make an effective policy for speedy disposal of pending cases in the district judiciary especially.

Senior puisne judge Justice Shujaat Ali Khan and other judges including Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, Justice Aalia Neelam, Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh, Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan attended the meeting, says a press release issued by the LHC.

The meeting considered several suggestions to dispose of the pending cases, especially the old ones, in the LHC and the district judiciary as soon as possible.

The meeting decided to make up for the deficiency of more than 700 judicial officers in the district judiciary of Punjab by simplifying the current syllabus of the examinations for the recruitment of civil judges and additional sessions judges.

Resolves to clear pending cases

It approved that the matter would be placed before the seven-member administration committee of the LHC and unnecessary topics/subjects will be removed from the syllabus.

The meeting observed that the pending cases will be decided quickly by increasing the number of judicial officers.

It was also considered to allow recording of arguments through video link facility in the LHC principal seat and allied benches in Bahawalpur, Multan and Rawalpindi.

The meeting expressed its concern over the lockdown of district courts and lawyers’ strikes.

It resolved that lockdown of courts would not be tolerated under any circumstances and anyone taking law into their own hands would face stern action as per law.

It was concluded that bar associations across the province would be apprised about the decision of the full court meeting so the culture of strike and lockdowns could be eliminated.

The meeting expected that the bar associations would extend cooperation in ending the court lockdown and strike culture.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2024