09 May 2004	Sunday	18 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, May 8: The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, has said that good governance is key to progress and a well organized, efficient and fully functional justice system is its essential component.

"Justice system plays a major role in ushering in good governance, therefore, administration of justice must receive due priority and urgency," the chief justice said while addressing the trainee judges at the certificate awarding ceremony on the conclusion of a three-week refresher course at the Federal Judicial Academy.

Newly promoted 23 additional district and sessions judges from Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir participated in the course.

The chief justice observed, a judge has to perform his functions without fearing the difficulties and problems faced by him in his daily life. It is true that the working conditions of courts, particularly at the lower levels, are in dire need of improvement.

He said the judges do not have proper courtrooms, residences, libraries and other requisite infrastructure. Their strength was inadequate and their dockets were longer. "Litigation is multiplying everyday, but corresponding measures are far behind."

The chief justice said: "I believe, this state of affairs should not make us lose our hearts. The reason is that our lower judiciary nowadays is working in a much better condition than the time I was a civil judge."

He asked them to ensure that discretionary relief was not misused by unscrupulous litigants while issuing stay orders. The best way was to decide the main case at the earliest, he added.

Talking about lower courts' functioning, the chief justice asked them not to stop proceedings in the cases unless a stay order was produced before them issued by a higher court.

He said delay in dispensation of justice eroded the confidence of the litigants in the court system. One major cause of delay was the incidence of adjournments, which every court confronted. "It is a very serious issue and must be handled with due diligence. Adjournments are sought and granted in routine," he added.-APP