In a bid to tackle the growing backlog of cases in Pakistan’s Supreme Court, a bill seeking an amendment to the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1997, was introduced in the Senate on Monday. The proposed legislation, titled the “Supreme Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Act, 2024,” aims to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court from 17 to 20, excluding the Chief Justice.
The bill was presented by Mohammad Abdul Qadir, an independent senator from Balochistan, who highlighted the urgency of addressing the more than 53,000 pending cases currently clogging the apex court’s docket. The proposed amendment would see the total number of judges rise to 21, including the Chief Justice, as part of efforts to expedite the resolution of these cases.
The bill underscores the multifaceted nature of the Supreme Court’s responsibilities, noting that it has four distinct jurisdictions—original, appellate, advisory, and review—each of which contributes to the accumulation of cases. The proposed increase in the number of judges is intended to help the court manage its diverse and demanding workload more effectively.
“With economic growth and social changes, the complexity and variety of cases have increased,” the bill states, pointing to the need for a larger bench to handle the expanding scope of judicial matters. The document, a copy of which has been obtained by Geo News, highlights that the amendment is crucial for ensuring that justice is delivered in a timely manner.
The bill’s introduction comes amid growing concern over the delays in the judicial process in Pakistan, where long-standing backlogs have hindered the swift administration of justice. If passed, the amendment would be a significant step towards enhancing the capacity of the Supreme Court to deal with its caseload, ultimately benefiting the country’s legal system and the public at large.