SHC proposes constitution of committee to resolve city courts’ issues

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has proposed that a committee be constituted under the guidance of the advocate general of Sindh to resolve issues pertaining to the district judiciary in Karachi as well as the establishment of a central judicial system.

The observation came during the hearing of a petition seeking a central judicial system in the city and proper infrastructure of the district court equipped with modern facilities. A high court division bench, headed by Justice Agha Faisal, observed that the petition has been filed with regard to serious issues and remedy to ensure dispensation of justice.

The court observed that issues highlighted in the petition include the need for a centralized judicial complex in Karachi, encroachments in court premises, security, lack of proper facilities, existence of touts in the premises of the courts, issues relating to women and children in context of family courts as well as allegations of corruption allegedly prevailing in the court staff.

The petitioner’s counsel submitted that unless these issues were decided on a war footing, the dispensation of justice shall be prejudiced as the city courts are the courts of first instance and primary recourse of the litigants.

The court, after hearing the arguments of the counsel, proposed that a committee be constituted under the guidance of the advocate general and this committee should comprise focal persons of the relevant departments.

The SHC further observed that first a short-term plan be chalked out comprising matters not constrained by the end of the fiscal year slightly more than a month away. It proposed that a long-term plan be also contrived with the assistance of the committee to resolve the issues of the city courts.

The court directed the counsel to submit their proposals till the next date of the hearing. The petitioner, Zia Awan, submitted that there were several critical issues within Karachi’s judicial infrastructure, including poorly distributed courts, rampant corruption, slow and ineffective bailiff system, ineffective security systems, lack of fire safety equipment, insufficient restroom facilities and inadequate provisions for differently-abled individuals.

He requested the high court to direct the authorities concerned to remove encroachments from within court premises, improving sanitation and ensuring proper parking arrangements until the central judicial complex was constructed.

He stressed the importance of creating a safe environment for female lawyers and litigants and suggested providing green spaces and facilities to reduce stress and promote mental well-being of the judicial staff.

The petitioner also pointed out an urgent need for installing modern fire safety systems, including fire extinguishers, alarms and emergency exits, to safeguard lives and minimise potential damage in case of fires.