SCBA Hails CJ LHC Decision To Not Have Further Divisional Benches

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21th july, 2016) : Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, President Supreme Court Bar Association 9SCBA), has supported the decision of the Chief Justice and Judges of the Lahore High Court, Lahore to not have further "Divisional Benches" of the LHC. He said that the basis of the decision of the Lahore High Court Judges not to have further "Divisional Benches" is that the independence, integrity and respect as well as efficient working of the Lahore High Court, which is the superior most court of the Province and the administration of justice, will be adversely affected and compromised. According to a statement issued here on Thursday, Barrister Zafar said that the Civil and District Courts have been established to undertake work in the Divisions, while the constitutional jurisdiction and the appellate and revisional jurisdictions against the judgments of the District Judges and Civil Courts remains the jurisdiction of the High Court.

If Benches of the Lahore High Court are established in Divisions, it will lead to equating the High Court with the District Courts, he added.

Barrister Zafar further stated that he had consulted with the senior members of the Supreme Court Bar and also retired Chief Justices of the Court who were also of the view that establishment of further Divisional Benches of the Lahore High Court should be discouraged. At the same time the President SCBA stated that the lawyers from the various Divisions had genuine concerns and in order to meet those demands, Lahore High Court should have Special Benches representing the Districts within the principal seat at Lahore so that when lawyers from the Districts come to argue their cases at Lahore, they would be able to obtain a hearing of their matters before the Special Benches and not face the issues of delay in fixation or hearings.

He said that when a lawyer comes from a District to Lahore that also gives a great opportunity to the lawyers from all over Pakistan to meet each other in one place, exchange views and hold dialogues with each other and thereby improve the professional integrity, acumen, knowledge, practice and standing of all lawyers.