SC directs government to upload laws, amendments

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday sought an undertaking from the federal secretary law for giving a deadline to ensure uploading of all constitutional amendments, acts, ordinances, rules, regulations, bylaws and other statutory instruments on websites with translation in national and local languages.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, heard the suo moto on the errors in legal books and journals.The court directed the Federation and the four provincial law secretaries to hold consultations on the matter and ensure uploading of all constitutional amendments, acts, ordinances, rules, regulations, bylaws and other statutory instruments on websites with translation in national and local languages.
The court asked Federal Law Secretary Justice (retd) Muhammad Raza Khan to give an undertaking on Thursday (today) for the deadline to complete the process. The court further ruled that if the undertaking was violated, the secretary law will have to tell as to who would be responsible for this.
During the course of the hearing, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked that even they were facing problems while searching the Anti-Terrorism Act on the website adding that their staff got it from the Library of Congress, Washington.
“We will not compromise over the public interest what may come,” Justice Khwaja remarked.Secretary Law Justice (retd) Muhammad Raza Khan, while appearing before the court, informed it that all things were available on the website, but they are waiting for the feedback from legal fraternity and gave them one month’s time.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa, another member of the bench, however, observed that nothing is available on the website, then for what feedback they were waiting for.“We have great respect and regard for you but probably you are not saying correct,” Justice Jawwad S Khawaja told the secretary law.
Sindh Additional Advocate General Shafi Chandio, while appearing before the court, contended that if the court may fix a date, then they can file their reply. Justice Qazi Faez Isa, however, observed that if the Sindh government is asked for advertisements, it can issue huge advertisements to the press but will not do the work.
Justice Jawwad S Khawaja on one occasion observed that the court should not be considered helpless as it can even summon the chief executive of the province and it had summoned the chief executive of the province in the past.
Earlier, Deputy Attorney General Sohail Mahmood appeared before the court and submittedthat the Ministry of Law had appointed a consultant on the matter. The court, however, observed that they don’t need consultants but government official who could ensure implementation of the court’s order in letter and spirit.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing till Thursday (today) asking the Federal Law Secretary Raza Khan to give an undertaking for the deadline to complete the process.The Supreme Court had taken suo moto on the errors in legal books and journals. The errors are found in different books on Contract Act 1872, Manual of Intellectual Property Laws, Printing Ordinance 2000 and Punjab Consumer Protection Laws.