SHC chief justice issues new policy guidelines

KARACHI: Newly-appointed Sindh High Court (SHC) Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh has issued policy guidelines to judicial officers to curb corruption in the judiciary and ensure timely disposal of important matters.

Judicial sources told The Express Tribune that CJ Sheikh had recently chaired a meeting with judicial officers to identify and resolve bottlenecks in the disposal of various categories of cases, performance of judicial officers and related issues.

He emphasised the need for expeditious disposal of cases, particularly old ones, in accordance with the guidelines laid by the National Judicial Policy Making Committee.

Sources said after deliberations some guidelines were unanimously suggested in order to improve the justice delivery system in the province.

According to the guidelines, all the district and sessions judges have been told to closely monitor corruption and malpractices and curb such practices by adopting zero tolerance approach, irrespective of the rank or status.

CJ Sheikh said departmental proceedings should be initiated against officials found involved in corruption. Similarly, it was decided that judicial officers showing inefficient attitude and letting witnesses go unexamined will be disciplined according to the rules.

Judicial officers have been directed to ensure disposal of rent cases in four months and rent appeals in two months. They have been directed to bring the issue of non-appearance of official witnesses in courts to the notice of the concerned SSP and DSP and even by taking coercive measures to order stopping salaries of such officials.

The presiding officers of the family courts were directed to expeditiously decide family court issues by curtailing unnecessary and flimsy adjournments by the parties.

Source: The Express Tribune