ChatDD Blog

LAHORE: The Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, has said that subordinate judiciary is the backbone of the judicial system and it should provide speedy justice, but on merit.

Addressing a meeting of judicial officers at the Punjab Judicial Academy on Saturday, he said judges should avoid delays in deciding cases.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Khawaja Mohammad Sharif and senior most judge Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry attended the meeting.

Justice Iftikhar said: “If we fail in providing speedy justice to people, we have no right to sit in courts.”

He directed judges to strictly implement the National Judicial Policy which envisaged speedy disposal of cases.

Referring to difficulties faced by litigants in lower courts, he asked the LHC chief justice to be more vigilant and strict in curbing corruption.

He appreciated the role of media in highlighting problems of the people and said it was a big source of information for him.

“We should welcome healthy criticism; it helps us remove our faults.”

The CJP said he would like to remind judicial officers of their constitutional and moral obligations. He said the subordinate judiciary had no option but to improve its performance because its failure would disappoint people and bring a bad name to judiciary.

He warned them that if they did not improve their performance the recent substantial increase in their salary would be withdrawn. He praised efforts made by Justice Sharif to eliminate bribery from subordinate judiciary in Punjab, but said: “I am still receiving many complaints against judicial officers.”

Justice Iftikhar expressed concern over non-implementation of the National Judicial Policy and said it appeared that most judges of the lower judiciary had not taken it seriously.

He said all judges, including himself, would have to make great efforts to provide justice to sustain people’s respect and hopes.

He said the judges should hold themselves accountable and see if they were dispensing justice. Justice Sharif said that 98 per cent of corruption in the lower judiciary had been eliminated. He said judicial officers were performing well despite working in an adverse environment.

He appealed to lawyers to cooperate in speedy disposal of cases.

He assured the CJP that judicial officers would work hard to bring down the number of pending cases and improve their performance.

Lauding efforts of CJP, Justice Sharif said: “I can say with pride that he is the only credible person in the country.”