Constitutional Court Declares Delayed Judgments a Violation of Law

Islamabad: The Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that failure to announce judicial decisions within the prescribed time constitutes a violation of the law, issuing an important judgment addressing delays and premature leaks of court rulings.
In a detailed seven-page verdict authored by Justice Aamer Farooq, the court stated that high courts are legally bound to announce reserved judgments within 90 days. Any decision delivered after this period may be declared invalid on that basis alone.
The ruling emphasized that the rules governing the Supreme Court of Pakistan and high courts carry the force of law, and violations can lead to consequences.
The court further noted that leaking a judgment—intentionally or unintentionally—before its official announcement is against the rules. It directed that all judges and court staff must strictly adhere to procedural regulations. In cases where a decision is leaked prematurely, the head of the bench may order a fresh hearing, which can be conducted by the same or a different bench.
The verdict also stated that such matters in high courts should be referred to the respective chief justice, while in the Supreme Court they should be placed before the judges’ committee.
Expressing concern over growing delays, the court observed that despite the heavy backlog of pending cases, timely justice remains essential. It highlighted that the increasing trend of reserving judgments has caused prolonged hardship for litigants.
The court also expressed displeasure over a decision by the Sindh High Court that was announced after a delay of 10 months, removing related observations from the record. The case pertained to an appeal filed by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation regarding pension payments.
The court has directed that copies of this ruling be sent to all high courts across the country for implementation.