Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry on Friday urged judges to improve their performances, as the disposal ratio of cases is lower in courts of Punjab as compared to other provinces. He was addressing LHC judges and district and sessions judges of Punjab. “Cases were being disposed of as per directions of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee in other provinces, except Punjab, where the pendency rate is higher, which is a matter of concern,” the LHC CJ said. He urged LHC inspection judges to visit their districts concerned on a regular basis and review why cases were not being decided on time.
“LHC inspection judges will be answerable to the CJP for their districts concerned”, he added.
The LHC CJ said that sessions judges were backbone of the judiciary and they play the role of a bridge between the high court and lower courts. He said that efforts had been made to appoint honest sessions judges, who could be helpful to curb corruption, but despite efforts, the desired results had not been achieved. The LHC CJ asked session judges to point out elements involved in corruption so that action could be taken against them.
“Many judges had been sacked on complaints of corruption and all out efforts were going on to remove corrupt elements from the judiciary,” he added. The LHC CJ said that 90 percent staff of the lower judiciary was involved in corruption adding that judicial officers should extend their cooperation in efforts to end corruption from the judiciary.
He said that despite best efforts by judges, image of the judiciary had not improved and the desired relief was not being provided to the masses. The LHC CJ said that often the high court had to provide relief in cases, which could be resolved by civil or sessions judges and such cases increase the burden on the high court. He urged judges to decide cases on merit, as they were answerable for their decisions before God. “Judges should provide justice to people at their door so that the image of judiciary could improve,” he added.
