| Case ID |
303c7899-c5e5-4283-8220-3f4791bb1ab6 |
| Body |
View case body. Login to View |
| Case Number |
Civil Petition No. D-1901 of 1999 |
| Decision Date |
Dec 22, 1999 |
| Hearing Date |
Dec 22, 1999 |
| Decision |
The Sindh High Court directed the Customs, Excise and Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESAT) to dispose of the pending appeals expeditiously within a month. The Court emphasized that the CESAT's inefficiency and delays in hearings were detrimental to public interest, leading to the exercise of public interest litigation under Article 199 of the Constitution. The Court recognized the importance of timely justice and mandated improvements in the operational protocols of the CESAT to ensure compliance with legal standards and enhance accessibility for litigants. |
| Summary |
This case involves a civil petition filed by Philips Electrical Industries of Pakistan Ltd. against the respondents, including Pakistan and others, regarding the operational inefficiencies of the Customs, Excise and Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESAT). The Sindh High Court, presided over by Judges Dr. Ghouse Muhammad and Zahid Kurban Alavi, addressed widespread complaints about CESAT's failure to conduct timely hearings and resolve pending appeals. The Court invoked public interest litigation principles under Article 199 of the Constitution of Pakistan, emphasizing the need for judicial activism and a dynamic interpretation of law to uphold citizens' rights to inexpensive and expeditious justice. The Court ordered the CESAT to adhere to strict timelines in hearing cases, highlighting the judicial obligation to monitor the legal order and ensure effective enforcement of rights. This case serves as a critical reference point for discussions on administrative efficiency within judicial systems, the role of public interest litigation, and the broader implications for access to justice in Pakistan. |
| Court |
Sindh High Court
|
| Entities Involved |
Not available
|
| Judges |
DR. GHOUS MUHAMMAD,
ZAHID KURBAN ALAVI
|
| Lawyers |
Not available
|
| Petitioners |
PHILIPS ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES OF PAKISTAN LTD.
|
| Respondents |
others,
PAKISTAN
|
| Citations |
2000 SLD 1728,
2000 YLR 2724
|
| Other Citations |
Benazir Bhutto v. Federation of Pakistan PLD 1988 SC 416,
State v. Ziaur Rehman PLD 1973 SC 49,
Shehla Zia v. WAPDA PLD 1994 SC 693,
M.C. Mehta v. Union of India AIR 1987 SC 1086,
People's Union for Democratic Right v. Union of India AIR 1982 SC 1473,
S.P. Gupta and others v. President of India and others AIR 1982 SC 149,
Supreme Court Bar Association v. State of U.P. 1995 Supp.(3) SCC 602,
Dr. V.L. Wadehra v. Union of India (1996) 2 SCC 594,
Delhi Domestic Working Women's Forum v. Union of India (1995) 1 SCC 14,
Dr. Upendra Bakhsi v. State of U.P. (1983) 2 SCC 308,
Dr: Nalla Thampy Thera v. Union of India AIR 1984 SC 74,
Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, Dehradun v. State of U.P. AIR 1985 SC 652,
Subhash Kumar v. State of Behar AIR 1991 SC 420,
Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India (1996) 3 SCC 212,
M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1996) 4 SCC 750,
Buffalo Traders Welfare Association v. Manika Gandhi (1996) 11 SCC 35,
Attorney-General v. Independent Broadcasting Authority (1973) 1 All ER 689,
R. v. GLC (1976) 3 All ER 184,
Gouriet v. Union of Post Office Workers (1977) 3 All ER 70,
Cooks v. Southend Borough Council (1990) 2 WLR 61,
R. v. Bar Council Ex parte Persival (1990) 3 All ER 137 (QBD),
R. v. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, The World Development Improvement Ltd. (1995) 1 WLR 386,
Dr. Moinuddin Farooque v. Bangladesh and others (1997) 15 BLD 1,
Muntizma Committee v. Director Katchi Abadis, Sindh PLD 1992 Kar. 54,
Mian Fazal Din v. The Lahore Improvement Trust 21 DLR (SC) 225 = PLD 1969 SC 223,
Bandhu Mukhti Morcha v. Union of India AIR 1984 SC 802,
Mukesh Advani v. State of Madhya Preadesh AIR 1985 SC 1368,
Union of India v. Raghubir Singh AIR 1989 SC 1933,
Pomal Kanji v. Karsandas Purohit AIR 1989 SC 436,
Central Inland Water Transport Corporation v. Brojonath Ganguly AIR 1986 SC 1571,
Muhammad Nawas-Ai-Sharif v. Pakistan PLD 1993 SC 473,
Qalandro v. The State 1997.MLD 1632,
Duport Steel Ltd. v. Sirs (1980) 1 All ER 529
|
| Laws Involved |
Customs Act, 1969,
Qanun-e-Shahadat Order (10 of 1984),
Constitution of Pakistan, 1973
|
| Sections |
194,
2(a),
184(3),
199,
Preamble,
3,
4,
2A,
37(d),
203,
175,
212
|