MUZAFFARABAD:
The State Judicial Policy Development Committee unanimously agreed that all district judge vehicles must display a monogram along with the judges’ designations.
Additionally, the committee decided that district judges would be exempt from maintaining log books but would have to comply with the fuel limits prescribed for official vehicles under existing laws.
The meeting of the State Judicial Policy Making Committee was held on Thursday under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Azad Jammu and Kashmir High Court Raja Saeed Akram Khan.
The committee also discussed the establishment of Consumer Courts in Azad Kashmir and unanimously agreed that their establishment was necessary. The legal secretary was tasked with providing an update.
The additional law secretary informed the committee that a bill to set up these tribunals had been prepared in 2015 but due to a financial crisis it had not been presented to the cabinet. The law secretary was directed to present the bill in the next meeting.
The meeting was attended by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Khawaja Muhammad Naseem, Chief Justice Justice Sadaqat Hussain Raja, Chief Justice of the High Court Sardar Liaquat Shaheen, Law Secretary and other senior officials.
Chief Justice of Azad Jammu and Kashmir High Court Raja Saeed Akram welcomed all the members.
In his opening remarks, the Chief Justice emphasized that the State Judicial Policy Making Committee is the largest forum of the higher judiciary and its decisions are binding on all state institutions.
He noted that the main objective of the forum was to ensure the prompt and effective delivery of justice to the citizens. He mentioned that the committee has decided to review the problems that hinder the delivery of justice.
The high court has administrative control over both the high court and the subordinate judiciary, and any decision taken by the State Judicial Policy Development Committee with respect to the subordinate judiciary is implemented through the High Court itself.
The Chief Justice expressed hope that the committee’s decisions would improve judicial performance and contribute to more effective and timely delivery of justice.
The committee reviewed and unanimously approved all agenda items, including those related to former district judges. The committee discussed matters related to former cadre district judges.
