SA Haidri
Muzaffarabad: Chief Justice CJ Supreme Court Justice Ch. Ibrahim Zia has said that the goal of civilized society can not be fulfilled unless an effective judicial system prevails.
He said that history has proved that development, sustainability, strength, peace and prosperity of any state or society are conditional to strong and quick justice system. He said that those societies who disregard judicial system leads them to unrest and becomes the main reason of anarchy and disharmony.
CJ appreciated the efforts of President, Premier, Assembly and other state departments for achieving targets in legislation. He also appreicated the work of Judges in supreme court, high court district and session courts during judicial year despite of low strength of judges and Qazis and lack of resources.
Chief Justice said this in an occasion inaugurated on new judicial year here on Monday. CJ also thanked lawyers, Vice Chairman and members of AJK Bar council, Presidents and other members of Supreme Court and High court bar associations, central bar association, districts and Tehsil bar associations for their co-ordination and endeavours of justice system. In judicial year from october 2016 to september 2017,1065 cases were pending of previous year, while 2185 cases were filed in 2016-17. Total 3250 cases were in court proceedings and after proper hearing, decisions given during this year were 2314 and 936 cases remained pending.
CJ said that the figure of cases during 2016-17 and their proceedings and process of decision making was satisfactory as compared to previous year. Justice Raja Saeed Akram Khan, Justice Mustafa Mughal were also present in the occasion while advocate general Raza Ali Khan, Vice Chairman AJK bar council Shaukat Ali Kayani and registrar supreme court Muhammad Riaz also addressed the event. CJ said that in last judicial year, important developments were observed in legislation.
Implementation of new legislation like Govt. Policy Committee Act 2017, Shariat Appellate Bench Acf 2017 and amendments in Courts and Laws Code Act, Service Tribunal Act, Family Court Act, Hadood o Qasas Laws and other laws gave good effect in their proper implementation. He said that we have also taken some initiatives for the betterment of judicial system in the state. CJ Ibrahim Zia said,” After my oath as being Chief Justice of Supreme Court, some suggestions consists of 53 points were sent to all bar associations and vice chairman bar council for the betterment of justice system; I am looking forward for the feedback of lawyers by considering this as their core responsibility.” He said that first Judicial Policy making committee session was held in which suggestions were taken for optimization of judicial system. We will soon introduce a new policy and all necessary measures will be taken in this regard. We will also send our recommendations for further legislation to implement this policy if needed.
CJ said that after the release of court decisions in urdu language, this initiative was appreciated not only on state level but internationally as well, specially the decisions of public interest.
CJ advised that it should be our core responsibility that we should fulfill our tasks with enthusiasm, passion and hard work to facilitate masses. He said that courts can not give 100% justice without co-operation and co-ordination of all other departments. “The main aim of courts is the implementation and supremacy of law, we develop this concept, rest are the obligations of other departments who tackle these circumstances on daily basis.”, Chief Justice added this comment.
He said that the role of media and other private organization to maintain the supremacy of law is indispensable. Sometimes News published were un-authentic, it should be confirmed first about the news related to court so public can get the accurate news. He said that as concern to freedom of justice system, judges may not be answerable to anyone but are answerable to God. We have to improve our abilities, because self accountability is a discriminative attribute. He said that we (Judges) are getting great perks and privileges in this state, so quantity and quality of our decisions should be according to our suitableness.
CJ said that in previous judicial year, there was a good gesture observed about retirement and promotion of judges, while in previous years acting judges were sustained for long period and appointment of new judges were delayed which gave negative impression of courts, prevention of that system is appreciable. He said that all three circuit benches are now attached with one link via IT system and a central data system is also made regarding this. He said that as per Judicial policy committee, a detailed performance report of courts will be published next year.
