- Necessary amendments made in Islamabad High Court Act, 2010 and Civil Courts Ordinance, 1962
In order to facilitate litigants to civil suits, reduce the workload from senior judges, and speed up hearings of civil cases in Islamabad District Courts, relevant amendments have been made to Islamabad High Court Act, 2010 and Civil Courts Ordinance, 1962 enhancing the pecuniary jurisdiction that was previously in place.
After the amendments, district judges and civil judges of Islamabad District Courts will be able to hear cases regardless of pecuniary value of suits before them.
It is pertinent to mention here that judges, be them District or Civil, were under intense workload of civil suits and appeals. Due to pecuniary jurisdiction, previously in place, only 1st class civil judge had the power to hear suits of unlimited value. This resulted in some judges more overburdened than the others.
At present, Islamabad District Courts are divided in two zones: District Court (East) and District Court (West).
District Court (East) is headed by District and Session Judge, Sohail Ikram, and has 5 additional district and sessions Judge. At present there are 13 civil judges-cum-judicial magistrates posted there.
District Court (West) is presently headed by Additional District Session Judge Kamran Basharat Mufti, who also has additional charge of session judge at the moment. There are 9 additional district and sessions judges performing their duties.
Interestingly, district court (West) has 34 civil judge-cum-judicial magistrates at present.
‘The recent legislation is of utmost importance as it will greatly facilitate lawyers and public at large. The litigants will greatly benefit as now every judges can hear the suit regardless of the value involved.
There is a huge number of judges present in district courts: who will take care of the piled up cases quite easily,’ said Syed Muhammad Tayyub, president Islamabad District Bar Association while commenting on the amendment.