RAWALPINDI: In Punjab, 768 judges from the subordinate judiciary (lower courts) have agreed to hold day-and-night court sessions, while 979 judges have declined to do so, as per the private tv report.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi, who is also the chairman of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee, had expressed a desire to start double shifts in Punjab’s lower courts to handle more than 1.4 million pending cases.
In this regard, the Director General of District Judiciary at the Lahore High Court sent a letter to all session judges in Punjab. All judges in Punjab submitted their reports to the Director General of District Judiciary.
The reports stated that out of the total 1,747 lower court judges in Punjab, 44 percent, or 768, agreed to conduct day-and-night court sessions, while 979 refused.
According to the data, Punjab has 152 District and Session Judges, 504 Additional District and Session Judges, 110 Senior Civil Judges, and 981 Civil Judges.
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Meanwhile, more than 1.4 million cases remain pending in Punjab’s lower courts, and over 700 judge positions are still vacant. To address the backlog of cases quickly, discussions are ongoing about having Punjab’s lower courts work day and night.
The Director General of District Judiciary has sent the judges’ reports on this matter to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi.
Now, suggestions will be sought from lawyers’ organizations, and a decision on holding day-and-night court sessions will be made after consulting all stakeholders.
