Courts to give rulings on merit instead of technical grounds: CJ

Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has directed the district courts to give rulings on merit instead of technical grounds.The National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) meeting held in Lahore today with Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry chairing it. CJ said that judiciary and lawyers must not adopt any kind of shortcut in providing justice. The Chief Justice also expressed satisfaction over the implementation of National Judicial Policy. He directed for taking all steps for dispensation of justice at grass-root level. The CJ said that pending cases were disposed off successfully to a large extent despite problems such as load-shedding and the judicial timings. Appreciating performance of subordinate judiciary and bar, he said judges and lawyers were working hard to meet the NJP targets adding without cooperation of bar no target could be achieved. The Chief Justice said that National Judicial Conference would be held in Islamabad from April 16 to 18, in which 500 delegates would participate from all over the country including lawyers and other stake holders. He also said that bars had pointed out some problems regarding judicial policy, which would be discussed in the meeting.