LHC to allow lawyers to send written arguments to courts

LAHORE: Keeping in view difficulties being faced by lawyers and litigants due to the pandemic lockdown, the Lahore High Court has decided to allow lawyers to send their written arguments to the courts and also exempted the litigants from personal appearance unless specifically required.

A circular issued by LHC Registrar Bahadar Ali Khan notes that the lawyers as well as litigants have been facing difficulties to attend court proceedings due to the lockdown and it is not predictable as to how much time is required to get back to normalcy.

It says in specified matters, the lawyers may send the brief of their cases/written arguments along with the relevant material to the court through mail or email at principal and all regional seats.

The circular says the presence of lawyers and government law officers shall not be required in the courts and similarly except in pre-arrest bail applications, the clients will also not attend the court unless directed.

All branches of the court will also start entertaining institutions of all nature cases from April 20. An official said the authorities at the LHC had been deliberating upon starting virtual courts in view of the hardships of lawyers in attending the proceedings. Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi had meetings with bar representatives on the matter.

Advocate Syed Shahbaz Bokhari, Chairman of Institute for Legal Research & Advocacy, also gave a presentation to the judges on online courts.