ISLAMABAD - Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Tuesday observed that the tales of corruption in judiciary from civil judge to Supreme Court are everywhere but the dignity of the court would be restored at every cost. "The judiciary would have to be cleaned of corruption and no irregularities in dispensation of justice would be tolerated", Chief Justice Iftikhar further remarked at the outset of proceedings in courtroom No.1 where he sat after a lapse of more than 16 months following his restoration on March 16 as a result of a popular public campaign led by lawyers and anti-government politicians. The spacious courtroom was filled much beyond capacity on the occasion and there was no place to stand as the limited number of seats was filled in a flash. Justice Nasir ul Mulk and Justice Mian Shakir Ullah Jan were the two other judges at the Bench which was chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan. Hundreds of jubilant men and women including lawyers, members of civil society, family members of missing persons and media persons were among the audience. Arslan Iftikhar and Balaj Iftikhar, both sons of Chief Justice Iftikhar were also present on the occasion along with senior lawyer and leader of lawyers' movement Justice (Retired) Tariq Mehmood. Former Justice Nasira Javed Iqbal and Mrs Amina Masood Janjua, Chairperson Defence of Human Rights were also present in the audience. Everyone in the attendance was so pleased that their faces were glittering with happiness and contentment as if each one of them was now Chief Justice of Pakistan. However, there was pin drop silence in the courtroom despite its being jam-packed with admirers of Chief Justice Iftikhar as everyone wanted to witness the historic proceedings with great concentration. All eyes were on Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and everyone was waiting for him to proceed with work and give orders as he used to do before the shabby events of November 3, 2007 when former dictator Pervez Musharraf sacked him and dozens of other independent minded judges. During his short address on the occasion, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry also thanked lawyers for their glorious role in the movement for independence of judiciary and restoration of judges. Earlier, proceedings started with recitation of Qur'an. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry also sought the cooperation of black coats in strengthening the judiciary and sorting out the black sheep. He further asked the lawyers that if they came across any complaint of irregularity, it should be reported to the Registrar Office through a petition. Additional Secretary, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Advocate Zuklfiqar Maluka congratulated the Chief Justice on re-assuming the office and assured him that lawyers would extend their full cooperation in the struggle for independence of judiciary. Proceeding with the cases, the Chief Justice first took up the case of a widow Batool Begum and sought comments from respondents on her plea within two weeks. Next case that came up before the three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan was that of 96 ad hoc lecturers who could not be regularized despite clear court orders. The august bench was informed that the ad hoc lecturers before the court came into service in 1986 and some of them had even cleared PCS examination. The apex court had directed the Punjab Government in the year 2002 but the orders were never implemented. Instead, the Provincial Government had filed a review appeal against the court orders. Expressing his extreme annoyance over the miseries of ad hoc lecturers and the unfair treatment meted to them by the Punjab Government, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry directed the Provincial Government to regularize these lecturers, otherwise heavy fine would be levied on it. "If these lecturers were sacked for being appointed wrongfully, then those officers who made these appointments, should also be punished", he observed. "These lecturers had spent prime time of their life in their service and where the Punjab Government was sending them now", he angrily asked the Assistant Advocate General (AAG) Punjab. He also asked AAG to seek fresh directives, withdraw the appeal and regularize the lecturers, otherwise be ready for a heavy fine. Earlier, the Chief Justice of Pakistan was accorded warm welcome on arriving at the Supreme Court after a lapse of more than almost 17 months. Rose petals were showered on the vehicle of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry by jubilant lawyers and members of civil society who were raising slogans in his support. Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday was also accompanying the Chief Justice on the occasion. Strict security measures were taken on the occasion to avoid any untoward incident.