ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights unanimously passed the Islamabad Subordinate Judiciary Service Tribunal (ISJST) Bill, 2015 on Thursday.

The bill was presented by Minister for Law and Justice and Human Rights Pervaiz Rashid and was referred to the standing committee for further deliberation.

The tribunal is proposed to adjudicate on service related matters of the subordinate judiciary of Islamabad. The tribunal will decide on matters of promotion, service and disciplinary action of judges.

When the Islamabad High Court (IHC) was set up in January 2011, no forum was established where judges of the subordinate judiciary could go with grievances against the IHC administration.

According to the subsection 2 of the section 3 of the proposed ISJST Act will have exclusive jurisdiction with respect to matters relating to the terms and conditions of the service of members of subordinate judiciary, including disciplinary matters.

The Subsection 3 of the same section outlines that the tribunal shall consist of three judges of the IHC, nominated by the chief justice, the most senior of whom will be the chairman of the tribunal.

Under section 5 of the proposed law, judges of the subordinate judiciary may file an appeal against the final order of the departmental authority within 30 days of such an order or within six months of the establishment of the tribunal.

If the bill is passed without amendment, the tribunal will have the power to confirm, set aside or modify the order being appealed.

The meeting of the standing committee was chaired by Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2015

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