The Supreme Court of Pakistan has notified separate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) aimed at ensuring uninterrupted judicial functioning during unforeseen public holidays and introducing a transparent and priority-based system for fixation of cases.
According to a press release issued on Tuesday, the court’s administrative and judicial work will ordinarily continue even during emergently declared public holidays with minimal essential staff, unless otherwise directed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
The newly introduced case fixation framework gives priority to urgent civil and criminal matters, including family cases, bail applications, criminal review petitions, cases involving prisoners above 80 years of age, restoration petitions, compromise matters, and cases involving short legal questions.
In an effort to reduce case pendency, the SOPs mandate that at least 40 per cent of each Final Cause List will comprise the oldest pending cases up to the year 2018, with gradual inclusion of cases from subsequent years where necessary. The court has also introduced special facilitation measures for cases filed by lawyers from Sindh and Balochistan.
The SOPs further provide for the issuance of weekly and proposed monthly cause lists, alongside the development of an automated case fixation system aimed at enhancing transparency, reducing delays, and improving overall case flow management.
The measures, the statement said, reflect the court’s commitment to an efficient, technology-driven and citizen-centric administration of justice. The SOPs have also been made available on the official website of the Supreme Court for public awareness and stakeholders’ information.
