Mindset-Change: Judges Asked To Be Courteous Towards Litigants

PHC Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim says that they must ensure conveniences for litigants, not inconveniences at all levels and strive to change the existing mindset

Mindset-Change: Judges Asked To Be Courteous Towards Litigants

The judicial system will be best served if judges safeguard the dignity of the litigants who come before the court seeking their rights as enshrined in the Constitution.

This was stated by Peshawar High Court's Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim on Thursday while addressing a certificate-awarding ceremony after a four–day Faculty Development Programme for Judicial Academies- Training of Trainers- at the Federal Judicial Academy.

CJ Ibrahim, who was the chief guest at the event, said: "Litigants deserve respect. We all are here for them. Our judicial system is for them. They should not be in a state of fear. We all are public servants. We must be responsive helpers."

He added that as judges, it was their job to create conveniences for litigants, not inconveniences at all levels. 

"We must strive to change the mindset for them, and these types of training are crucial to change the mindset."        

Peshawar High Court's top judge urged reforming laws and taking revolutionary institutional steps that are more compatible with modern challenges so that the rights of the litigant public are not compromised at any level in the system.

During the event, the European Union Delegation to Pakistan's First Secretary For Rule of Law, Una Kelly, spoke about the 'Deliver Justice' project.

"The EU supports reforms to ensure the delivery of people-centred justice and access to justice for all, particularly women and less privileged groups, and to improve service delivery in the security sector in line with constitutional safeguards and international standards. It is implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan."

She termed the FJA as the 'best resource' to achieve the desired reforms in Pakistan's justice sector, including capacity building, criminal justice system, etc.

Appreciating the commitment and interest of the participants in the four-day training of trainers, she thanked the UNDP, UNODC, and UN Women. Also, she expressed optimism for mutual cooperation with the Federal Judicial Academy soon.

Earlier, FJA's Director General Hayat Ali Shah said that faculty members, both permanent and adjunct, from the provincial judicial academies and the Federal Judicial Academy had benefited from the course.

"The objectives of the rule of law can only be gained if we train the judicial officers properly with the aim that they will ensure the rule of law and implement the rule of law," Shah remarked.

UNDP Programme Manager Chamila Hemmathagama also spoke on the occasion.

In the end, PHC Chief Justice Ibrahim awarded certificates to participants from all provincial judicial academies, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Punjab. 

The writer is an Islamabad based journalist working with The Friday Times. He tweets @SabihUlHussnain