Paucity of judges is increasing cases pendency in lower courts as only 52 additional district and sessions judges and 167 civil judges are unable to resolve the cases as per the judicial policy.
The pendency of cases is increasing every year due to dearth of judges despite the announcement of judicial policy about on-time decision of cases by the courts.
According to data of District and Sessions Judge Lahore, the pendency of all categories of cases at the sessions court stands at 12,770, out total of 25,649. Civil cases pendency stands at 69,294 in different categories, out of total of filing of the cases 154,725.
When contacted senior lawyers, they said that slow working of courts is a main hurdle in the disposal of the cases. They said that number of judges should be increased for lower courts as poor people get tired while pursuing their cases. The lawyers said that courts are not following the ‘judicial policy’ in letter and spirit.
It is pertinent to mention here that pendency record shows that cases has started piling up in lower courts of Lahore after the Musharraf regime and during last seven years, judges of lower courts could not resolve the cases on time due to different reasons.