Hafiz M Aziz Ur Rehman
HAFIZABAD: The saying that “justice delayed is justice denied” ,and there is no doubt that it has been biggest dilemma in the present judicial system that justice in most of the cases has been often delayed due to several reasons, as cases remained continued pending for adjudication through generations, that is why that Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Syed Mansoor Ali Shah has taken revolutionary step to establish Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centres in all the districts of the Punjab to provide cheap and speedy justice through mediation between the parties, District and Session Judge Muhammad Nawaz said here.
The D&SC invited a team of senior journalists to visit the ADR centre to see for themselves the mediation being carried out by the Mediator/Incharge of the centre being run by Ilyas Raza, who was sitting in the centre by adoring civilian dress mediating with the parties in a calm, polite and friendly atmosphere. The parties are also being served with tea and refreshment.
The D&SC further said that all the compoundable criminal cases and civil cases particularly Family Law Cases and money disputes are being sent to the centre with the mutual consents of the parties.
The centre was playing a vital role in early mediation between the parties in disposing of the prolonged pending cases for building up trust in the judicial system and the parties are being saved from unnecessary wastage of time, energy and money.
He disclosed that so far 210 cases have been referred to the centre, out of which 189 cases have been successfully mediated and the parties particularly children and families have heaved a sigh of relief. Most of the cases have been adjudicated within 15 days and one of the cases was disposed of within 10 minutes with the consent of a spouce, which has proved that the establishment o f the centre proved fruitful.
In family cases, the centre has saved the lives of scores of families and their children from ruination.
To a question, he said that the parties are not being forced but convinced and motivated to agree upon solution of their disputes so that they do not grow into conflicts and prolonged family feuds. He further said that a Sahulat Centre has also been set up in the judicial complex to facilitate the concerned people to get free of cost copy of FIR promptly. He said that ADR centre will shortly be opened at tehsil headquarter.
