The legal profession, as we’ve always heard, is a noble profession
All over the world, people dedicate their entire lives to this occupation, helping others, who have been wronged, into getting justice
But of course, all around the world, efficient public education systems exist which ensure quality education for all
This means that almost everyone passes through a uniform standard of education, whilst developing their own analytical and observational skills
The story isn’t quite the same for us
In Pakistan, despite the constitution promising a right to education, millions of children are deprived of basic education
This gives rise to widespread illiteracy
Due to lack of a uniform curriculum, different standards of education persist
Students doing O and A levels consider themselves to be academically superior as compared to others
It is an established fact that parents who can afford to send their kids to A level schools tend to see their kids develop academically better as compared to those who cannot
Due to this inconsistent educational system, all the institutions of the country suffer
One example being the judiciary
For someone to become a magistrate in the lower courts in Pakistan, all they have to do is rote-learn chunks of the Civil Procedure Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, the Law of Evidence and the Pakistan Penal Code
Once that bit is done, take the exams when announced and you have a new magistrate! Who cares about analysis and observation
The way the judicial exams are designed, they don’t require critical thinking
All they demand is merely memorising provisions of law which are used in courts daily and once that is done, you are good to go! The problem arises when someone who merely memorises laws locks horns with someone who reads, understands and analyses
Someone who critically assesses and argues
If someone who goes strictly by the book and does only what the book tells him faces someone who reads and understands, therein conflict arises
That is what, in my opinion, is plaguing the subordinate courts of Karachi
The younger lawyers, who have been trained by their professors and teachers to focus on details, dive deep into meanings and analyse profoundly are arguing matters before judicial officers who do not seem to be very keen on doing the same
Instead, they seem to be operating upon the more redundant principles of sticking strictly to what has become ‘settled law’ (oh how I hate this term) without appreciating the meaning behind why a certain law was made or why, to the contrary, it should have never been made
Maybe, our judicial system needs more young, more energetic and more informed officers who will actually be present in their court rooms rather than spending more than half their day in their chambers
Maybe, we need more officers who will actually listen to younger lawyers argue, understand their complex, tech-laden English and officers who can respect the fact that young female lawyers are just as good as the male lawyers
Maybe, we need officers who won’t take years and years to decide simple matters only because they’re slaves to due process
There are procedures which need to be followed, agreed
However, procedures aren’t supposed to linger matters on
Procedures are supposed to ensure consistency and uniformity, not encourage delays
It is no secret that our judicial system requires a complete overhaul
We need younger, more educated, more informed and modernistic officers who don’t take forever to decide matters
It is unfortunate that until and unless there is no one uniform education system for everyone in the country, the huge divide amongst intellect will continue to manifest itself in different institutions of the country
The young lawyers of this country experience vast frustration when their arguments are not understood by judicial officers
Resultantly, in order to soothe ones ego, applications and cases are dismissed due to lack of knowledge
Let’s hope we get more educated minds in courts
That is the only way to improve our outdated judicial system
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2023
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| Date: | 19-Mar-2023 | Reference: | View Original Link |
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