Supreme Court can take notice of any issue; says Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said the Supreme Court reserved the judicial authority to take notice of any issue, adding that the judiciary was a role model for other state institutions.

Addressing a full court session, the chief justice said no institution in the country had the right to interfere in another institution’s domain. The objective of the meeting was to improve the court functions and deliver to the beneficiaries of the justice system and those who had approached the court for seeking relief for violation of their rights and restoration of rights and entitlements.

The chief justice asserted the judiciary’s jurisdiction, reminding certain quarters of the courts’ constitutional mandate to ensure that institutions function with their prescribed spheres.

A press release stated, “The superior judiciary enjoys cross-cutting jurisdiction empowering it to carry out the role of oversight and ensure that no institution or department or authority may interfere in the domain of the other and further to check the unlawful or unauthorized or malafide act or exercise of authority.”

Without naming any institutions, the full-court meeting reasserted that the Supreme Court is a constitutional body that has constitutionally guaranteed jurisdictions – a power that must be exercised in an independent and effective manner without fear or favor.

It added, “The present day judiciary is looked upon as one institution which is delivering services to the people in an active manner. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the judiciary to come up to the peoples’ expectations and become a role model for all other institutions to follow.”

The statement comes days after a controversial statement by the army chief that no single institution or individual can, or should, determine the country’s national interest – which many analysts concluded was a remark pointed at the judiciary and the chief justice – particularly because it came following the verdict on the Asghar Khan case that found top military generals guilty for manipulating the 1990 general elections.

According to the press release, the institution, disposal and pendency of cases was at the top of the meeting’s agenda. Notwithstanding the disposal of a significant number of cases due to what was termed the hard work of judges, there is discernable trend of rising institution, the meeting noted.

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Posted by Web Desk on Nov 16 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.