2024 SCMR 1656
Pronouncing of judgment---Reasonable time---Maxim 'Justice delayed is justice denied'---Injunction of Islam---Scope---Law and good practice require that judgments be written soon after the hearing has concluded---Indispensable component of dispensing justice is to deliver judgments within a reasonable time---'To no one will we refuse or delay, right or justice' may be the first articulation of the oft quoted legal maxim - 'Justice delayed is justice denied.'---As such the maxim has for hundreds of years been used in various forms, all of which signify the same thing."
PLD 2018 SC 296
Criminal trial remaining pending indefinitely---Effect---Criminal justice system required that a person accused of a crime was brought to justice as speedily as possible, so if he was found guilty he was punished and if he was found to be innocent he was discharged and/or acquitted---Maxim that "Justice delayed was justice denied" came true when a criminal trial remained pending indefinitely for no reason whatsoever---Procrastinated trial not only adversely affected the prosecution case but may also seriously hamper the defence
2015 SCMR 1550
Proper judicial dispensation---Duty of judge to decide a case expeditiously---Scope---Inordinate delay in pronouncement of judgment after hearing of the matter---Effect---Rule of audi alteram partem, violation of---Judge had the duty to decide the cases expeditiously, because it was a known jurisprudential concept that "Justice delayed is justice denied"---Courts must, thus, exercise all the authority conferred upon them to prevent any delays which were being caused at any level by any person whosoever---Procedural and legal aspects of any litigation were equally important, which must be followed in letter and spirit, however, barring such time that was consumed for adherence with such legal and procedural aspects, the courts were bound to decide the matter as promptly as possible especially once the trial and the hearing of the case(s) were complete, and in appeals, revisions and constitutional matters, once the hearing of the matter (when arguments were concluded) had taken place and it had been concluded---Where there was an inordinate delay in pronouncement of judgment after hearing of the matter, especially on account of lapse of considerable and reasonable time (such as six months and beyond), the judges shall not be in a position to exactly recall and record with precision and exactitude as to what propositions of law and facts were argued before them---Such delay shall have reflection upon the rule of audi alteram partem, which was a fundamental and salutary rule of justice and postulated that if someone had been denied appropriate opportunity of hearing in a case, any verdict/decision given against such person/party shall not be laudable---Any judgment rendered with inordinate delay after hearing of the matter may be questioned as not being meaningful, purposive and rather illusionary---Such a verdict shall neither fit in the concept, object and purpose of a judgment nor shall it meet the rule of proper dispensation of justice"
Judgements of Lahore High Court.
2016 YLR 307
Justice delayed is justice denied'; 'Justice hurried is justice buried' is equally applicable---Balance is to be struck between the two principles"
2014 PCrLJ 561
Speedy disposal of cases---Sacrifice of justice to obtain speedy disposal of cases, could hardly be termed as 'justice'---Balance ought to be maintained between the two commonly known maxim; "Justice delayed was justice denied", and 'justice rushed was justice crushed'---Speed and efficiency, should not be at the expense of justice
PLD 2009 Lahore 77
Delay in trial---Duty of Court---Scope---Justice delayed is justice denied---Code of Civil Procedure and Law of Evidence (Qanun-e-Shahadat, 1984), prescribed a meticulous procedure for initiation, defending, conducting of proceedings and conclusion of trial in suits and all possible steps required of a just and fair trial, had elaborately been mentioned in the laws---Very important and heavy duty was cast upon Presiding Officer of court to remain conversant, conscious and cautious about relevant provisions of law in conducting trial and to be vigilant that none of the parties should abuse/misuse process of law and of the court---Miscellaneous and interlocutory matters, some time, could take months and even years for their decisions, leaving main controversial issues aside---Such fragmentation of matters and piecemeal decisions resulted in delaying decisions upon real controversies at the cost of inconvenience to the parties and wastage of valuable time of courts---Such practices and tendencies needed to be curbed---High Court expected cooperation from parties to trial Court seized of matter so that suit could be decided within the time specified by High Court
2007 PCRLJ 1458
Non-production of under-trial prisoners before the Trial Courts---Consequent delay in the conclusion of trials, had attained alarming proportion and was one of the major causes towards the delayed disposal of criminal cases by Courts of law which was against that golden principle in the criminal administration of justice i.e. "Justice delayed is justice denied"---Early trial was the right of an accused---Delay in conclusion of trials in criminal cases was shattering confidence of the people in the system of administration of justice---Registrar of High Court was directed to circulate amongst all District and Sessions Judges to hold monthly meetings of Criminal Justice Co-ordination Committees and record their minutes as provided in sub-Arts.(2) of Art.111 of the Police Order, 2002 and in the meetings, they would specifically see as to why under-trial prisoners were not being produced before the, Trial Courts regularly and who were the delinquents---Circular would also include a direction to the Trial Courts that they would not pass an order on the warrants, unless the under-trial prisoners/accused were produced along with the warrants before them and in future, if any such type of case was brought to their notice, the matter would be brought to the notice of D.P.O. concerned, I.-G. Prisons and Provincial Home Secretary for strict action against delinquents because until and unless the matter was dealt, with iron hands, fruitful results could not be achieved
PLD 2006 Lahore 431
--Duty and function of counsel---Bar was there to represent their clients as well as to assist the Courts honestly and devotedly, but if 6imsel would involve the Courts in frivolous cases or petty matters, which could be resolved otherwise, that would distract Courts from substantial work like criminal/civil appeals and constitutional issues, etc.---Misconceived and unfounded litigation not only would waste precious public/Court's time, it also would increase pendency of cases---High Court which was apex constitutional and appellate Court within the Province, its basic role was to decide appeals and constitutional issues within reasonable time because Justice delayed was justice denied---All stakeholders were advised to let the High Court focus on its real role and job.
PLD 2006 Lahore 162
--Justice delayed is justice denied---Rights of accused and obligation of the State pointed out
PLD 2003 Lahore 27
Administration of Justice -----Justice delayed is justice denied---Justice rushed is justice crushed---Court which is charged with onerous duty and responsibility of administering justice is expected to maintain a balance so that neither the matter is delayed unnecessarily nor its disposal is made in such a hasty manner as may be violative of the law and fairness---Judicial power or jurisdiction to administer Justice in accordance with law cannot be abdicated merely to honour any executive or administrative instruction or directive---Court, .in order to keep the streams of justice clean and unpolluted, is expected to shun every extraneous instruction/direction and act purely in accordance with law
PLD 2003 Lahore 27 Administration of Justice -----Justice delayed is justice denied---Justice rushed is justice crushed---Court which is charged with onerous duty and responsibility of administering justice is expected to maintain a balance so that neither the matter is delayed unnecessarily nor its disposal is made in such a hasty manner as may be violative of the law and fairness---Judicial power or jurisdiction to administer Justice in accordance with law cannot be abdicated merely to honour any executive or administrative instruction or directive---Court, .in order to keep the streams of justice clean and unpolluted, is expected to shun every extraneous instruction/direction and act purely in accordance with law
PLD 2004 Lahore 717
Justice delayed is justice denied, but there is equally the other aspect of the matter that some times justice hurried is justice buried---Court being charged with the duty of administering justice is expected to maintain a balance, so that neither the matter is delayed unnecessarily not it is disposed of such a hasty manner that it may be violative of basic principles of law
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