SC tells LHC to decide ex-civil judge's dismissal issue.

LAHORE -- The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Lahore High Court (LHC) to decide, on executive side, a matter regarding dismissal of a civil judge (now retired) in the light of a judgment by the Punjab Subordinate Judiciary Tribunal.

A two-judge bench at the SC's Lahore registry comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi heard two appeals -- by Dr Ali Sana Bokhari, the civil judge, and the other by the department/high court.

Dr Bokhari, 76, had filed a reference with the Supreme Judicial Council during service while posted as an officer on special duty at the LHC and filed a contempt petition against the then LHC chief justice in 1992.

The LHC had dismissed his contempt petition and issued him a contempt notice under which he was tried and sentenced to six-month imprisonment on Dec 8, 1993, which was upheld by a division bench of the LHC.

On appealing in the Supreme Court, the sentence was reduced to one month on Dec 6, 2000. Dr Bokhari served his sentence and rejoined service.

Later, while posted as deputy solicitor, he received a show-cause notice from the high court on Aug 11, 2001, under Section 11(1) of Punjab Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules 1999 and was dismissed from service. He challenged the dismissal through an appeal under Punjab Subordinate Judiciary Service Tribunal Act, 1991.

A tribunal comprising three judges of the LHC in...