20000312CJ calls for quick decision on PLC reports

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr Justice Irshad Hasan Khan Saturday observed the reports and recommendations of Pakistan Law Commission had not received due consideration by the successive governments.

Addressing the PLC meeting held in the Supreme Court building, he said that the reports and recommendations of the commission had since been forwarded to the government for implementation and expected quick decision in the right direction from the government.

The Chief Justice said that the services of the commission were not fully utilised in as much as, few references for law reforms were received from the government and its recommendations, in general, did not receive the importance and urgency that they deserved.

He said that there was dire need to use the services of the commission and Council of Islamic Ideology to gear up our nation for meeting the challenges of the fast advancing contemporary world, in consonance with the teaching of Holy Quran and Sunnah.

He said the mere increase in the number of judges or reforms of the procedure is no panacea for the perennial problem of backlog and delays.

He said with the active support and cooperation of the bench and the bar, there is need for formulating a viable and coherent strategy to address the defects and loopholes in the system which of course will include reforms in laws and procedure, and adequate increase in the number of judges and provision of infrastructure facilities such as court-rooms, administrative staff and office equipment, libraries, bar-rooms etc.

He said that the important though the issue of clearing the backlog and expediting trial may be, it does not mean rushing to setting claims and deciding matters. The courts have to follow legal and procedural formalities and ensure due process.There is a need for channeling our infrastructure and manpower resources in a manner that greater efficiency and maximum output is obtained from the system, he added.

The system has the potential to improve and deliver results. This would require proper planning and motivation of the serving personnel. The government should allocate adequate funds and place it at the disposal of the high courts for the subordinate judiciary in order to strengthen the administration of justice and ensure inexpensive and expeditious justice at the gross root level, he concluded.