Punjab’s lower courts commit violation of rules in Rs 90 million purchases
The Lahore High Court has expressed displeasure over purchases worth million of rupees by senior civil judges in Punjab, despite a ban on such purchases, according to an audit report issued by the Ministry of Finance.
The ban had been imposed by the Ministry of Finance and a failure to abide by it could amount to an offence.
The purchases made by judges in violation of the ban include Sessions judge Muzaffargarh’s purchases of Rs 3.2 million, Civil judge Faisalabad Rs.2.2 million, Lahore High Court Multan bench Rs 2.5 million, Civil Judge Chaniot Rs 1 million, Civil Judge Muzaffargarh Rs 0.6 million and Senior Civil Judge Dera Ghazi Khan Rs 0.4 million.
According to the audit report, Senior Civil Judges Chiniot, Faisalabad, Sahiwal and Chakwal made purchases worth Rs 10 million without advertising in the newspapers Severe violations of rules and procedures were committed during the purchase process.
The report further said that the Lahore High Court Multan bench and Senior Civil Judge Faisalabad committed violations of rules and procedures in the purchase and expenditure of Rs 2.3 million and Rs 1.9 million respectively.
“Ten Senior Civil Judges made expenditures of Rs 14 million without prior permission of the Lahore High Court, while twenty-three judges of Punjab including Senior Civil Judges of Chakwal, Okara, Laia, Toba Take Singh, Sahiwal, Sialkot etc committed severe violations of rules and procedure in purchases worth Rs 51.7 million.
The audit report directed the registrar Lahore High Court to initiate an inquiry in this regard.
