768 judges in Punjab agree on double shifts, 979 decline
Pakistan
DG District Judiciary has forwarded the judges' reports to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi
LAHORE (Muhammad Ashfaq) – In response to a proposal for round-the-clock court sessions in Punjab, 768 judges have agreed while 979 have declined.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, as chairman of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee, had suggested implementing double shifts in Punjab’s subordinate courts to address the backlog of over 1.4 million pending cases.
Following this, the Director General of District Judiciary at the Lahore High Court issued a directive to all sessions judges in Punjab.
According to the reports submitted by the judges, Punjab’s subordinate judiciary comprises 1,747 judges. Out of these, 44pc (768 judges) have consented to extended court hours, whereas 979 judges have expressed their inability to participate.
The province currently has 152 district and sessions judges, 504 additional district and sessions judges, 110 senior civil judges, and 981 civil judges. Additionally, over 700 judicial positions remain vacant.
The DG District Judiciary has forwarded the judges' reports to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi. The final decision will be made after consulting bar associations and other stakeholders.
