Supreme Court targets tax case delays with new benches
30-11-2024
Islamabad: Chief Justice Yahya Afridi has announced the formation of dedicated benches to expedite the resolution of tax-related cases, reaffirming the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring timely justice and improving institutional efficiency. The announcement was made during two high-level meetings held at the Supreme Court, where judicial reforms and strategies for clearing tax case backlogs were reviewed. Justice Ayesha A. Malik, Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, Supreme Court Registrar Muhammad Salim Khan, development expert Sher Shah, and other senior officials attended the first session. Read: DHA to develop Supreme Court Bar Association’s ‘Margalla Orchard’ Discussions focused on advancements in IT systems, case management improvements, human resource optimization, training programs, and mechanisms for public feedback. The participants acknowledged progress in these areas and shared recommendations to enhance ongoing reforms. In a subsequent session focused on tax litigation, representatives from the tax bar and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) joined the deliberations. Procedural challenges and strategies to address the backlog of tax cases were discussed in detail. Chief Justice Afridi stressed the importance of categorizing tax cases and reducing unnecessary adjournments to expedite hearings. He assured participants of the judiciary’s resolve to streamline tax-related proceedings by forming specialized benches. Representatives from the tax bar welcomed the initiative and expressed their full cooperation to support the swift disposal of cases. Read: FBR’s new strategy rolled out to tackle ‘high-net-worth tax evaders’ These efforts are part of the Supreme Court’s broader reforms aimed at enhancing judicial processes, promoting transparency, and delivering timely justice in cases that have significant implications for the economy and public welfare.