LAHORE, Sept 25: Chief Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry of the Lahore High Court has directed the district and sessions judges to ensure strict observance of punctuality by their subordinate judicial officers and discourage the practice of sitting in chambers and entertaining the visitors during court hours.

The directive has been issued in the light of the recommendations of the district and sessions judges conference held here recently.

It said that all the judicial officers must remain consistent in adjudication, grant of adjournments and refusing long adjournments of cases. Strict compliance with law and rules of procedure must be ensured for fairness and consistency in decision making.

The chief justice has stressed the need for a professional approach towards the case management and expediting the disposal of the family, rent and old cases.

In cases where the basic punishment provided is award of compensation to the victims, the law should be liberally applied without fear from any side. The law did not require increase in prison population.

The district and sessions judges have also been directed to obtain the lists of all the pending cases of each court in their districts after physical checking by the presiding officers.

The presiding officers should also be directed to prepare the lists of old cases on yearly basis and decide the same on priority basis.

The chief justice also directed the district and sessions judges to set up information offices in their respective districts immediately for the convenience of the litigants. Officials be posted for managing the information offices where the cause lists of all the courts working at a particular station be made available for information.

The CJ further directed the district and sessions judges to have proper interaction with the judicial officers as well as the Bar associations for solving the problems being faced by the lawyers and the litigants.

He has also directed them to keep a close watch on the work and conduct of the subordinate courts and staff. Corruption and malpractices should not be tolerated at any level under any circumstances.