According to a circular issued by the IHC Registrar Office, with the approval of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah the cases of the “Oldest category” (cases of the period from 1996-2010) shall be fixed on weekly bases and the same cases would be disposed of within a period of two months with the cooperation of the Bar.
It said that separate list under heading of the Oldest Category would be issued and intimation to the parties and their counsel would be made through SMS, email, cell phone and through the office of the Bar.
It further said that cases pertaining to year 2011-2014 would be considered as “Older Category” and would be fixed on fortnightly basis while disposal time would be six months commencing from March, 2022 to September 30, 2022.
The circular also said that cases filed during the years 2015-2017 would be fixed by the office thrice in the year 2022 whereas, cases of 2018 onwards shall be fixed and heard if all parties have been represented, para-wise comments have been filed and urgency has been determined by the court.
Similarly, there is another special category which is related to the cases of quashment of FIR, harassment, CRs against interim orders, FAOs and petitions filed against Section 22-A & B CrPC proceedings and criminal original petitions. The cases of this category will be fixed on weekly basis subject to approval of the bench already hearing the matters.
It said that priority in fixation will be given to matters pertaining to Family, Rent and Regular First Appeals. The cases of the Oldest Category shall be fixed on Thursday and there will be no other case/cases fixed on that day.
The registrar office said that any case, in which restraining order is in field from the Oldest and Older categories, shall be separately notified by the office to every bench for their observations, especially the matters pertaining to Family, Estate Office and Rent while no adjournment shall be granted in cases falling in the Oldest Category except for extreme hardship reasons.
It stated that special Division Benches/Larger Benches will be available on every Thursday and any other day if deemed appropriate to IHC Chief Justice.