More than one million cases are pending in the courts in Punjab said an annual report issued here on Wednesday by the Lahore High Court (LHC). The report, however, said LHC out of 163,974 petitions filed before the court during 2008 disposed of 74,542 cases with a backlog of 85,607 on December 31, 2007 when the Chief Justice Sayed Zahid Hussain took the charge of his office.
The subordinate courts of the province disposed of as many as 1,525,268 cases out of 2,776,468 with a backlog of 1,218,255. Till December 31, 2008 there was a balance of 1,251,200 cases at subordinate courts.
According to the details during the year 2008 the courts of D&SJ/AD&SJs disposed of 530,988 cases out of 630,886, Senior/Civil Judges/Judicial Magistrates disposed of 972,916 cases out of 2,094,707. While banking courts disposed of 13,430 out of 34,772, Anti-Terrorism courts disposed of 1403 cases out of 1905, Accountability courts disposed of 118 cases out of 321, Drug Courts disposed of 1809 out of 4598 while Labour Courts disposed of 4 604 out of 9 279 cases.
The report issued by the LHC said that special emphasis was placed on the resolution of dispute through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) which is in consonance with the injunction of the Holy Quraan. Family litigation was also being given priority for expeditious decisions.
Development work and holistic activities did not lag behind and the dynamic, innovative and holistic approach of the Chief Justice traversed the areas which were neglected and unattended, it added.
Report further said that during the period of year 2008 grades of judicial officers were upped, judicial allowance was multiplied to optimum level, conveyance/transport allowance was sanctioned and there were large scale promotions while members of the establishment of the LHC were too granted similar financial benefits.
It also said that eleven judges were elevated to the high court while eighteen additional district & sessions judges were selected and appointed during the last year.
The Punjab Judicial Academy was established which has started functioning and has completed its maiden course. For the first time in history oath of judicial officers and revised code of conduct was also introduced. The Chief Justice also established a "Complaint Cell" in the high court. Three-storey judicial complex was constructed in Lahore while a spacious visitation room with necessary amenities was also established. 65 construction schemes were completed and work of 95 schemes was in progress, the report revealed.
It further revealed that a scheme of Rs 40 millions was approved for the construction of Judicial Complex at Multan, while Judicial Complex at Murree was also constructed. A Cell was also established in the Protocol branch to process pension papers, medical bills and other matters of the retired judges and widows of the retired judges.
During the said period process of renovation of Chief Justice House in GOR-I which was built in Mughal era was also commenced besides financial support was given to the various Bar Associations incorporating small stations.