The National Judicial Policymaking Committee (NJPC) has approved strict timelines for the disposal of different categories of cases, setting a two-year deadline for property disputes and murder trials, while inheritance, revenue, and financial disputes must be decided within one year.

The policy was finalised on Monday during a meeting of the NJPC, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, attended by chief justices of all high courts and Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan.

According to the committee’s communiqué, family and tenancy cases, as well as labour disputes, are to be decided within six months, while banking court decree cases and criminal trials carrying sentences of up to seven years are to be concluded in 12 months.

Criminal cases involving minors and other juvenile offences must also be decided within six months.

The framework further specifies that criminal trials carrying sentences exceeding seven years must be concluded within 18 months. For murder trials, a maximum timeline of 24 months has been approved.

The committee emphasised the need for a comprehensive mechanism to ensure that an accused person in custody is produced before a magistrate within 24 hours.

The Attorney General assured the forum that a detailed mechanism would be prepared and presented in the next meeting.

The communiqué highlighted that complaints of external interference in judicial matters must be reported within 24 hours, with action to be taken within 14 days.

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) will ensure the dignity of judges making complaints, while all high courts will notify and share the SOPs accordingly.

The meeting also reviewed progress on the commercial litigation framework headed by Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui of the Supreme Court, with Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh (Lahore High Court), Justice Agha Faisal (Sindh High Court), and Justice Arshad Ali (Peshawar High Court) as members. The Attorney General and the FBR Chairman were also part of the committee.

The NJPC praised the efforts of the high courts and approved uniform timelines for different categories of litigation to ensure speedy justice.

Separately, the governing body of the Access to Justice Development Fund met under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Yahya Afridi at the Supreme Court. The federal government announced a Rs2 billion grant for the fund.

The meeting approved Rs631.57 million for women facilitation projects of the Sindh and Balochistan High Courts, while projects worth Rs317 million for Sindh, Lahore, Balochistan, and Peshawar High Courts were also sanctioned.

Additional projects for solarisation of courts in underdeveloped districts and establishment of e-libraries were approved.

The communiqué further stated that deserving litigants will be provided free legal assistance in the Supreme Court and high courts.

Chief Justice Afridi assured that sustainable and inclusive access to justice would be ensured across the country.