SITE MAPPING



DEVELOPMENTS


 

 

 

The assumption of the exalted office of Chief Justice by his Lordship Mr. Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry on 6.9.2002 ushered an era of progress for the Punjab Judiciary. The past one year witnessed vigorous activity of an unprecedented magnitude for the amelioration of the working conditions and other administrative matters of the High Court and the subordinate courts.

The Hon'ble Chief Justice firmly believes that:- 

  1. concrete efforts are required for further building up the capacity of the judiciary to deliver justice to the people particularly the deprived classes and the common man; and

  2. all employed, to achieve the above object, should be adequately remunerated and equipped with all the means and facilities necessary to enable them to perform their functions efficiently and effectively.

Not very far off in the retrospect we see a morbid cloud of inertia brooding on the judicial administration. Quite strangely the practice of inaction and resultant permitting of the budgetary funds to lapse was regarded as an achievement. The elimination of the fossils of the past, and in their place the present emergence of pragmatism and missionary zeal is a good omen for the judiciary. It will now lead the caravan of justice to its cherished destination; Insha Allah.

 

The Hon'ble Chief Justice has, with the optimum use of his wisdom, sagacity and administrative acumen, selected a team of dedicated workers for the accomplishment of his mission. The leading members of the team who, by virtue of their qualities of head and heart and acquisition of rich experience by holding various highly responsible executive and judicial offices over the last several years, possess the mental horizon and the vision to appreciate and identify the action required to provide timely support to the mission of the Hon'ble Chief Justice. They provided commendable staff support for the achievements which are the subject of this work.

 The development works undertaken since 6.9.2002 may now be set forth :

I. Development works in the Lahore High Courts

  1. The foremost concern of the Hon'ble Chief Justice has been the provision of an adequate and sufficiently comfortable environment for the persons working in the offices of the High Court as well as the lawyers and the public visiting the said offices so that official business could be conducted with ease and efficiency. To this end, all the offices of the High Court have been rendered air- conditioned. For this purpose,126 air;c6nditioners (36 split units and 96 window units) for Principal Seat, 36 window units for Multan Bench, 44 window units for Bahawalpur Bench and 15 stabilizers have been purchased.

  2. Inter-com-cum-telephone exchange of 16+200 lines has been installed in this Court. The work for installation of mini-inter-com-cum- telephone exchange at Lahore High Court Bahawalpur Bench, Rawalpindi Bench, Judges Rest House at Rawalpindi and Judges Rest House at Murree is in progress to be completed shortly. The cost incurred on the project is Rs.19,12,068/-.

  3. To give the establishment a neat and disciplined look, uniform and identity badges have been provided officially to the staff .

  4. To meet the transport requirements of the offices of the High court, 36 cars, three Suzuki vans, one Suzuki pick-up and 6 Honda CD 70 motorcycles have been purchased. The old cars were expensive, because heavy P.O.L., repair and maintenance expenses had to be incurred on them.

  5. 20 old cars have been disposed of through open auction and sale proceeds of Rs.61,88,079/- deposited in the Government Treasury and Rs.1 0,84,472/- got deposited from the bidders as G.S.T.

  6. To augment the efficiency of the offices of the courts, the following purchases have been made:-

(a) Computers 

193 computers along with 173 printers, one heavy duty printer, one server, one   copy printer for the use of High Court and the subordinate courts. 

(b) Other office equipment

Three Fax machines, two Paper Shedders, one photo-copier, one Dicta Phone, 5 Sound Systems and three electric water coolers.

  1. For re-furbishing the security arrangements, 5 security cameras, one Video Recorder, 62Fire Extinguishers and two 14" colour T.V.s have been purchased.

  2. Curtains, carpets, computer chairs, office chairs, tables, racks and steel almirahs have been purchased.

  3. Functions of the Member Inspection Team of the Lahore High Court have been streamlined. The processing of complaints has been made expeditious and a proforma has been prepared for making a complaint about the conduct of a Presiding Officer or an employee of the subordinate courts. It has been ensured that the complainant shall be informed about the fate of his complaint within six weeks of the date of receipt of the complaint in the office of the Member Inspection Team.

  4. 10% of the current pay has been granted as Judicial Allowance to all the officers/officials         of the Lahore High Court.

  5. The electricity capacity of the High Court premises has been increased from 1600 KW to 2600 KW and three transformers of 1000 KW have been purchased for this purpose. Old  wires are being replace by new cables.The High Tension overhead wires would also be  replaced.

  6. Within the compound of the High Court, a litigant shed has been constructed with allied facilities like fans, lights and electric water cooler .

II. Development works in the District and Session Courts and the Civil Courts.

  1. In relation to the Sessions and Civil Courts, 160 development schemes for construction of courts and residences for judicial officers, Bar rooms, litigant sheds,   bakhshi khanas, etc., have been commenced. These schemes include 5 courts for District and Sessions Judges, 41 courts for Additional District and Sessions Judges and 123 courts for Civil Judges. The number of residences under these schemes is 4 for District and Sessions Judges, 59 for Additional District and Sessions Judges and 157 for Civil Judges. A comparative study shows that during the 10 years preceding the present one year period, the number of courts constructed was 91 including 6 for District and Sessions Judges, 35 for Additional District and Sessions Judges and 50 for Civil Judges and that of residences was 100 which included 8 for District and Sessions Judges, 29 for Additional District and Sessions Judges and 63 for Civil Judges. Recently, a scheme for provision of two lifts at Aiwan-e-Adl, Lahore, for convenience of the litigant public and the lawyers has been approved and is in the process of execution. It is thus manifest that the volume of development work # I undertaken during the present spa'n of one year is far greater than what it was during the preceding 10 years. Further requirements according to the sanctioned strength of courts are being worked out and the District and Sessions Judges in the Punjab are being asked to initiate schemes to make up the deficiency of courts and residences as quickly as possible. Efforts are being made to ensure that within the shortest possible time no judicial officer faces any inconvenience at any station for reason of non-availability of court or residence.

  2. All the District and Sessions Judges have been provided new cars in replacement of the old ones which have outlived their utility. For this purpose, 34 new Suzuki Baleno cars have been purchased. 34 motor-cycles, 297 cycles, 34 electric water coolers, 214 type-writers, 34- photo-copiers, 34 fax machines, 34 split A.C. units, 34 grass cutting machines, 34 stabilizers and 85 desert coolers have been purchased for the Courts. Furniture has also been provided to the Courts. Similarly, 34-motor- cycles, 570 cycles, 34 electric water coolers, 221 type- writers, 15 photo-copiers, 206 water coolers and furniture have also been purchased for the Civil Courts.

For providing the above facilities, an expenditure of Rs.14,60,63,7001- has been made from within the allocated budget of the High Court, Sessions Courts and Civil Courts for the financial year 2002-

2003.

COMPUTERIZATION

The following computerization schemes are being executed:- 

  1. Display of Cases Schedule outside the Courts 

  2. Networking of Lahore High Court 

  3. Electronic Document Management System (Phase-l)

  4. Provision of Computers in Courts Offices Branches 

  5. Personnel Information System (Judicial Officers) 

  6. Pilot Phase of Computerization of Subordinate Judiciary (Sessions I Civil Courts ) 

  7. Process Service through E-mail 

  8. Complaints Management System 

  9. Basic IT Training of Staff

(i) Display of cases schedule outside the c

Display Screen/Monitor has been installed inside each court in the Lahore High Court which will display the daily cause lists of the Court which will keep on scrolling and showing the status of the cases fixed for hearing in the Court i.e. whether a case has been heard and if so what was the result. This will facilitate the litigants and their counsel to keep themselves

informed about the position of their cases fixed on a particular date in a court without going inside the Court and inquiring about it from some Court official.

(ii) Networking of Lahore High Court

 To facilitate the Hon'ble Judges of the Lahore High Court to have access to legal references, networking / integration of all the Courts in the High Court with the Computer Cell and Case Law Section of the High Court has been effected. This facility has been provided to the Library and Judicial Branches also. The networking of the Lahore High Court will eliminate the duplication of data and would result in saving time and power which will substantially improve the working capacity of the High Court.

(iii) Electronic Document Management System Phase-1

The Project aims at preservation of judicial record on electronic devices and provision of authentic information with regard to it to the litigant public. This will save finance, manpower, space and will lead to a paperless environment. Delay and inconvenience faced by the litigant public in obtaining copies of orders / judgments will be reduced.

(iv) Personnel Information System (Judicial Officers)

This scheme makes available online information regarding judicial officers' complete service history such as seniority, date of posting, transfer, date of joining, domicile, postings, etc. The information is updated as and when any change occurs and the authorities rely upon it for formulation of policies and passing of orders.

(v) Pilot Phase of Computerization of Subordinate Judiciarv (Sessions / Civil Courts)

In the pilot phase computerization alongwith printers, scanners and other accessories have been installed in 35 courts of District and Sessions Judges and 35 courts of Senior Civil Judges.

(vi) Process Service through E-mail

An experiment has been carried out in respect of selected districts to transmit processes through E-mail. It has proved successful. The Hon'ble Chief Justice has been pleased to order that the scheme be implemented throughout the province. Internet facility has been provided to the said courts.

(vii) Complaints Management System

Feeding of complaints against judicial officers received since 1993 is in progress. The system will provide accurate / quick information regarding the status of any specific complaint.

(viii) Basic IT Training of Staff

In-house training of more than 200 members of the High Court Establishment has been completed. About 200 officers / officials have recently been trained in collaboration with the Information Department and NK FACT. The Hon'ble Chief Justice has been taking personal interest in the training program and has directed -its expansion to the training of staff at Rawalpindi, Multan and Bahawalpur Benches.

                       

                     FUTURE PLANS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The following computerization schemes are proposed to be executed in the future:-

(i) Computerization of Information received from Subordinate judiciary

Under this scheme all reports received from the districts regarding institution and disposal of cases and complaints of litigant public and lawyers will be computerized.

(ii) Copy of Track System

This system will facilitate the issuance of attested copies Judgments / orders to the litigant public.

(iii) Launching of judgments / Orders on Web Site.

All the Judgments / Orders will be available the Web Site of I the Lahore High Court.

(iv) Filing of Petitions through Floppies / CDs and through Internet.

This scheme would enable litigant public to file their cases through floppies and CDs in addition to the routine mode of institution of cases through files.

 (v) Personnel Information System (Lahore High Court Establishment)

This will provide online information about the members of the High court Establishment.

 

                      DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCE SKILLS

The need to impart pre-entry and on job professional courses in the Judiciary can hardly be ignored. Lahore High Court had initiated the measures to inculcate judicial acumen and practical aspects of administration ., of justice by holding pre-entry and refresher courses at the N.I.P .A., and subsequently at the Federal Judicial Academy, Islamabad, as well as at the Sharia Academy, Islamabad. Unfortunately, for a considerable period in the past, importance of judicial training and education suffered a decrease in significance. However, during the last one year, the diminishing light of professional expertise was re-kindled and the Hon'ble Chief Justice allowed 10 Senior Civil Judges, 82 Civil Judges cum Judicial Magistrates and 10 Superintendents of the Sessions Courts to attend courses at the Federal Judicial Academy, Islamabad. Moreover, a large number of officers and support staff at the Lahore High Court has also attended computer,?,~~ literacy courses conducted on site. The need-based training of the Judicial. Officers and support staff would continue at an accelerated pace in the days ahead to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

 

ESTABLISHMENT OF BUILDINGS LEGIST PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT WING

For the first time in the history of the Lahore High Court the need for professional support for legislation and planning was appreciated by the   Hon'ble Chief Justice, and a separate wing was established under the Professionalisation Plan to cater day to day requirements of rule making and planning, headed by a full-time supervision of a District and Sessions Judge, assisted by competent support staff. The Wing is also responsible for receiving development schemes from allover Punjab under the Access to Justice Program launched by the Government of Pakistan, and to prepare and process financial and budgetary measures for execution of such schemes. During the short span of a few months, this Wing has succeeded in accomplishing the assignments of various conditionalities for release of funds under the Access to Justice Program, including preparing various welfare !. schemes for the Judiciary. Some of the important projects are as follows:-

(i) Enhancement of emoluments for the Sub-Judiciary

The Superior Judiciary was never ignorant of hardships and meager salaries of the Judicial Officers and their staff. Recently, a meeting of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee, convened by the Hon'ble

Chief Justice of Pakistan and attended by the Hon'ble Chief Justice Lahore. High Court alongwith the Hon'ble Chief Justices of the other Provinces has recommended the enhancement of the Judicial Allowance from Rs.20001- to Rs.6000/- for Civil Judges-cum-Judicial Magistrates, and from Rs.20001- to Rs.70001- for District and Sessions Judges, Additional District and Sessions

Judges and Senior Civil Judges. This increase in Judicial Allowance will help them meet the inflationary burden to a large extent.

Additionally, Judicial Officers and their staff will get 10% of their basic pay to payout their utility bills.

The N.J.P .M.C. also has recommended for setting up a pool of transport for the Judicial Officers, as well to provide them residences.

 Steps are under-way to implement the above recommendations

at the earliest.

(ii) Incentives and rewards for the subordinate Judiciary.

The practice of awarding cash amounts to the Judicial Officers for better performance attracted criticism on various scores. Hon'ble Chief Justice has abolished that scheme and has recently approved in principle a dynamic, transparent and attractive package for the subordinate Judiciary.

On its implementation (after it is finalized) annual summer vacations and winter holidays will be abolished and, instead, every judicial officer and the attached staff will be credited 48 earned leave every calendar year, in addition to usual 25 casual leave. Judicial Officers and their staff, at their option, will be permitted to get encashed their earned leave and casual leave, every year. This decision would not only extend additional financial assistance to the subordinate Judiciary , but also curb tendency to take leave un-necessarily making available thousands of judicial work-days every year, and helping reduce backlog by thousands of cases. This proposal would also reduce burden on the Exchequer by saving resources on raising new courts and staff for meeting the need for adjudication of cases which now would be decided in additional work-days. Public in general would also be benefitted by the enhanced presence of the Judicial Officers in their Courts.

(iii) Strengthening the Process-Serving Agency

Since its inception, no serious thought was given to the affairs of the process serving agency in the Punjab Judiciary. Hon'ble Chief Justice has keenly considered their genuine problems and requirements, and also the complaints against delays in service and misconduct. It has been decided to upgrade the posts of process servers from BPS 1 to BPS 5, bailiffs from : BPS 2 to BPS 7, Naib Nazirs from BPS 5 to BPS 10, Civil Nazirs from BPS 7 to BPS 14 and Clerks of Courts from BPS 7 to BPS 15. Their educational .requirements are also being enhanced. All the process servers and bailiffs shall wear the prescribed uniform. They are also being provided about 400 motor cycles for expeditious service. Their travel allowance is being enhanced from one rupee daily to Rs.500/- per month. Checks and balances on the performance of process serving agency would also be tightened. Moreover, at each District Headquarters courses for the members of process serving agency are being launched in near future, so that they are more informed and professionally equipped about their functions and procedures. It is expected that with added financial benefits and motorised travel facility, the process serving agency would deliver appreciable progress and would help reduce delays in service of processes.

CITIZEN COURT LIAISON CENTERS

Under this scheme, information centers have been established in all the District courts in the Province. These centers will resolve problems of the citizens and the courts arising from and connected with their interaction with each other. In this connection, functions to be performed by the centers, inter alia, will be:-

  1. to provide information regarding the courts and their procedures,

  2. to provide literature to citizens on legal matters including statute law and case law on actual cost basis,

  3. to redress litigants grievances regarding procurement of certified copies of judicial record and inspection of record,

  4. to provide a forum for alternative dispute resolution.