Plea for increasing judges’ strength allowed

LAHORE

The Lahore High Court Wednesday removed objection from a writ petition seeking increase in judges’ strength at the high court and allowed the petitioner to present his petition before the court. 

Justice Shahid Waheed of the LHC took up the matter as an objection case. MH Mujahid through his counsel Advocate AK Dogar argued that strength of judges with high court was very low compared to the population which was increasing day by day. For provision of timely justice, the strength of judges must be increased, the counsel submitted. He said it would also help in deciding matters early which subsequently would relieve the judiciary from an excessive burden of cases. He prayed that authorities concerned be ordered to increase judges’ strength at the LHC so that the public could get timely justice. He prayed that judges’ strength be increased from 60 to 120. Registrar office had objected to the petition but the court removed the objection and asked the office to fix it before the appropriate bench.

pension: The Lahore High Court Wednesday sought replies from Accountant General Punjab and Finance Department on a contempt petition seeking contempt proceedings against the respondents for not complying with court’s orders regarding payment of pension.

Muhammad Yousaf and others had filed contempt petitions against the state authorities for not obeying court’s orders regarding payment of pensions. They said they approach the court for justice and despite clear orders, they had not been paid their pension. Such attitude of authorities was contempt of court, they said. They prayed that contempt proceedings be initiated against the respondent departments. At this, the court issued notices to the respondents and sought replies.

dogs killing: A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the City District Government Lahore on an intra court appeal against killing of stray dogs in the city.

The bench headed by Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh sought reply from the CDGL till May 13, the next date of hearing. The bench issued this notice on a petition of Hamza Khan. The petitioner through his counsel Hamza H Rashid submitted that under its policy of killing stray dogs also known as “Dog killing campaign”, the CDGL officials have killed over 50,000 dogs unnecessarily. He said the CDGL officials have no power to do so. He said it is in violation of the Pakistan Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act, 1890 and also ulta-vires to the Constitution Of Islamic Republic Of Pakistan, 1973. He said he had challenged this campaign before a single bench of the LHC which had dismissed his petition.

He filed this ICA against the order of the single bench. He prayed to the court to direct the respondent to immediately restrain from killing stray dogs in absence of any bye-laws. He said the act of the respondent of killing stray dogs be declared illegal and unconstitutional.