Justice Aalia Neelum, the first female chief justice (CJ) of the Lahore High Court (LHC), is faced with the daunting task of the provision of timely justice to the litigants as a new judicial year gets underway. As many as 1.4 million cases are pending in the high court as well as at subordinate courts; 1.2 million in the latter and 0.2 million in the former, which the CJ is to ensure that they are disposed of.  The second challenge, which the judge faces, is that she has to fill in 24 vacant posts of judges at the LHC and 750 in the lower courts. The third challenge is that of the appointment of judges on merit. The fourth one is that she has to put an end to unnecessary strikes by the lawyers. Justice Aalia is also to make sure that the culture of putting off hearings of cases is discouraged. And but not least, she has to ensure that the court’s verdicts are implemented. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan