LAHORE: The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr Justice A.R. Cornelius, today [Feb 18] stressed the need of expounding and spreading the real meanings of the fundamental rights among the people.

He was delivering his presidential address at a symposium on the “role of judiciary” held here this morning at the Government College as part of the three-day centenary celebrations of the West Pakistan High Court.

“In my view,” the Chief Justice said, “fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, are often too narrowly regarded as being aimed only at control of actions by public authorities or as a check on laws made by the legislatures.”

“They are indeed commandments which call for general observations by the members of the public in their relation with each other,” the Chief Justice said.

Mr Justice Cornelius outlined the importance of the role played by the judicial officers and said there could be no higher role entrusted to a human being than that of implementing, with care and propriety, rules of justice.

Justice Cornelius said it must be remembered that a judge was always on the stage playing his role in full view of the public. The quality of his performance, when compared with the highest standards, was for the knowledgeable public to assess and not for himself.

“He possesses very large powers to enquire into and decide matters of high importance between subject and subject, and between the subject and the state, and enjoys total freedom of expression of his views not only in regard to the case itself, but also in regard to the circumstances which have given rise to it, and even the nature and quality of the law which he is required to apply. Therefore, for a judge to be over conscious of the role that he plays in the country’s affairs would be apt to detract from the quality of his work.”

Published in Dawn February 19th, 2017