Enforcing Contracts Reforms
Government of the Punjab is committed to introducing reforms which will improve the business environment of the province. Following are the reforms which have been introduced:
Enforcing Contracts
Step 1
Lahore High Court as designated judges to hear and dispose of commercial cases in:
1.Lahore
2.Faisalabad
3.Multan
4.Gujranwala
5.Rawalpindi.
Step 2
In pursuance to Section 23 of the Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution Act 2018, Punjab Government Introduced “ The Punjab Alternate Dispute Resolution Rules 2020” covering framework for ADR proceedings and service providers. Download from here
Step 3
Amendments in Code of Civil Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Ordinance 2020 has enabled summons to be issued electronically.
Step 4
- The defendant shall file written statement not later than 30 days from the date of his first appearance in the Court
- The Court shall within 7 days of filling of the written statement, frame issues.
Step 5
- The parties may, within 7 days of framing of issues, raise objections on such issues and shall provide a list of witnesses and certificate of readiness for production of evidence.
- The Court or the Commission, as the case may be, shall complete recording of evidence and proceedings in writing and through audio and video recording within 90 days of fulfilment of the requirements contained in subsection (3).
Step 6
- The Court, upon completion of evidence of the parties, shall complete the hearing of final arguments of the parties within 20 days.
- Amendment of section 115 of Act V of 1908. The District Court shall decide the application within 2 months from the date of first appearance of the respondent.
Step 7
Following four reports be generated about the competent court:
(i) time to disposition report
(ii) clearance rate report
(iii) age of pending cases report
(iv) single case progress report?
Step 8
Electronic Case management tools are in place for judges. The system can be used for the following:
(i) to access laws, regulations and case law.
(ii) to automatically generate a hearing schedule for all cases on their docket.
(iii) to send notifications (for example, e-mails) to lawyers.
(iv) to track the status of a case on their docket; in a particular case.
Step 9
Electronic Case management tools are in place for Lawyers. The system can be used for the following:
(i) to access laws, regulations and case law.
(ii) to access forms to be submitted to the court.
(iii) to receive notifications (for example, e-mails).
(iv) to track the status of a case; in a particular case.
Step 1
All judgments rendered by subordinate courts are available on High Court website for the general public.