Following the National Assembly’s approval, a bill aimed at increasing the number of judges in the Supreme Court is set to be presented in the Senate today.
The private bill, prepared by Senator Abdul Qadir, seeks to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1997, to address the growing backlog of pending cases.
The bill proposes an increase in the number of Supreme Court judges from the current 17 to 21, including the chief justice. The proposed amendment to Section 2 of the 1997 Act emphasizes the necessity of this expansion to manage the increasing caseload effectively.
The text of the bill argues that with the rising number of pending cases, it has become imperative to expand the judiciary to ensure timely justice.
Senator Abdul Qadir’s bill will be presented during the Senate session today, which is underway with Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani presiding over.
On August 27, the government introduced this significant piece of legislation aimed at reforming the judiciary, with a particular focus on the Supreme Court. The proposed legislation sought to increase the number of Supreme Court judges, including the chief justice.
The bill, submitted by government member Daniyal Chaudhry to the National Assembly Secretariat, addressed the critical issue of the growing backlog of cases in the Supreme Court. The increase in the number of judges was deemed necessary to ensure the timely hearing and resolution of cases.
The bill argued that the appointment of additional judges with expertise in specialized fields, such as cybercrime, environmental laws, and global trade, would contribute to more accurate and informed decision-making. “By appointing judges with expertise in different fields, correct decision-making will be possible,” the text states.
