'Justice system plays major role in good governance'

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui on Saturday said that good governance was key to progress and a well organised, efficient and fully functional system of administration of justice is an essential component of governance.
"Justice system plays a major role in ushering in good governance, therefore, administration of justice must receive due priority and urgency," the Chief Justice said while addressing the trainee judges at the certificate awarding ceremony on the conclusion of a three-week refresher course here at the Federal Judicial Academy.
23 newly promoted additional district and sessions judges from Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir participated in the refresher-training course.
The Chief Justice observed, a judge has to perform his functions without fearing the difficulties and problems faced by him in his daily life. It is true that the working conditions of courts, particularly at the lower levels are in dire need of improvement.
He further said, the judges do not have proper courtrooms, residences, libraries and other requisite infrastructure. Their strength is inadequate, their dockets are longer. "Litigation is multiplying everyday, but corresponding measures are far behind."
Having said that, the Chief Justice emphasised, I believe, this state of affairs should not make us lose our hearts. The reason is that our lower judiciary now a days is working in a much better condition than the times I was a Civil Judges.
He asked the judges to ensure that discretionary relief is not misused by unscrupulous litigants while issuing stay orders. The best way is to decide the main case at the earliest, he added.
Talking about lower courts functioning, the Chief Justice asked them not to stop proceedings in the cases unless a stay order is produced before them issued by a higher court.
The Chief Justice further said delay in dispensation of justice erodes the confidence of the litigants in the court system. One major cause of delay is the incidence of adjournments, which every court confronts.
"It is a very serious issue and must be handled with due diligence. Adjournments are sought and granted in routine," he said.
He said, unless the judges and the lawyers make concerted efforts to avoid the phenomenon of adjournments, the goal of expeditious dispensation of justice will remain illusory.
Earlier, speaking at the occasion, Chaudhry Hasan Nawaz, Director General of the Academy said, the Academy is making serious effort to design and execute its programme in a scientific and systematic manner with a view to maximise the scope of learning and to influence judicial behaviour for grater efficiency and productivity.
He said, the methods of training are participatory and individualised which are evolved on the basis of training needs of the trainee judges. The approach is multidisciplinary and practices oriented around live problems confronting the judiciary.