ISLAMABAD, March 17: The government is all set to introduce new kind of courts at tehsil level as part of its devolution plan, under which about 170 courts will be established throughout the country to provide easy and accessible justice.
The draft for Small and Minor Offences Court Ordinance has been sent to the President and it will be promulgated within days, an official of Law Ministry told Dawn.
The courts are being set up as part of “Access to Justice Programme,” funded by the Asian Development Bank which has offered $350 million loan for judicial, administrative and police reform.
The Small Claims and Minor Offences Courts Ordinance 2002, would provide for the establishment of such courts at the tehsil level with a view to making justice easy and cheaply accessible to all people.
These courts will try to bringing about a mutually acceptable solution to the disputes through conciliation and mediation, and in case any such compromise is arrived at, the same will be enforced as a decree of the court. In the event of failure of the compromise, the court, through specified summary procedure, will seek to settle the dispute within 60 days.
A simplified procedure for execution of decree is likely to be prescribed. Officials believe that with the establishment of these courts, bulk of the petty disputes will be resolved quickly and at the lowest cost to the parties concerned. This will reduce burden on other courts and delays in the disposal of cases will be minimized.
