LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti has taken notice of a matter that the staff of the court and judicial branches seek assistance from private persons/clerks of the advocates to perform their official duty especially movement of files from the branches to court or other branches.

A directive issued by the deputy registrar (HR-I) says that all the officers/officials working in the courts and judicial branches are directed not to seek assistance of any private person or clerks of the lawyers in performance of their duties.

All the supervisory officers of the judicial branches have also been directed to remain more vigilant regarding the performance of their branches and keep strict check on their subordinates.

The heads of the branches have been asked to forward written request to the authority concerned for the new staff if there is any shortage.

An official, who did not want to be named, said the directive was issued in the wake of tampering with the files of cases relating to the fuel price adjustment (FPA) in the electricity bills.

He said two officials of the LHC writ branch – Shahid Hussain and Amjad Taj Muhammad – have been removed from service on charges of handing over files to a private person, which led to tampering with case record.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2022