ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi has engaged the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) to implement a policy aimed at enhancing procedural efficiency and improving case management.
Pursuant to the meeting with Advocates of the Supreme Court (ASCs), Advocates-on-Record (AORs), and office-bearers of the SCBA, the CJP issued various directions to enhance procedural efficiency, strengthen case management, and improve facilitation for advocates and litigants at the Supreme Court.
It has been decided that the proposed monthly cause list shall be issued in advance to enable effective preparation of cases. The weekly cause list shall be issued by Wednesday, subject to any subsequent changes arising from roster sittings or non-availability of benches.
Regarding delisting of cases, intimation shall ordinarily be conveyed at least 48 hours prior to the fixed date, and advocates shall ensure timely communication to the parties. Where delisting occurs within 24 hours, cases shall, except on Fridays, be redistributed or re-fixed before other available Benches; where this is not feasible, such cases shall be fixed in the following week in accordance with the approved policy.
The policy on early hearing shall be strictly adhered to criminal cases in which a substantial portion of the sentence has been served, cases involving convicts aged eighty years and above, and cases settled through compromise shall be included in the early hearing category for priority fixation.
The judgments and orders, once signed by the Bench, shall be promptly uploaded and transmitted to the concerned advocates through email, and strict compliance shall be ensured by the concerned officers.
A late-hearing mechanism has also been approved, whereby, upon a joint application by advocates for both sides, cases may be fixed for hearing after the lunch break with the approval of the chief justice before the notified Bench. No adjournment on any ground shall be entertained in such cases.
Benches at Branch Registries shall continue to be nominated keeping in view the pendency of cases at each Registry.
For redressal of grievances and facilitation on procedural matters, advocates and litigants may approach the Public Facilitation Centre, where the Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan, along with deputed officers, shall remain available daily from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
All concerned officers have been directed to ensure effective implementation of the above decisions in letter and spirit to promote efficiency, transparency, and improved service delivery.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.