Summoning of any party in a case is one of the important phases in adjudication, for which the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Justice Ms. Aalia Neelum, has taken the initiative by issuing comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) aimed at making the appointment, duties, and management of Special Messengers more effective and transparent.The primary responsibilities of Special Messengers include timely service of court notices and verification of land and property.
These new rules have been implemented immediately at the Lahore Principal Seat as well as the Multan, Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi Registries. Under the newly issued SOPs, the need for a Special Messenger will be determined by the relevant dealing assistant, who will also ensure that if any fee is required to be paid by the concerned party, it is deposited without delay. If Special Messenger services are needed outside the city (beyond 50 km), the deployment of more than one messenger may also be proposed.
According to the SOPs, the approval process for appointing Special Messengers has been made more transparent. The dealing assistant’s recommendation will first be reviewed by the Assistant Registrar or Supervisory Officer and then forwarded to the Deputy Registrar, who will give the final approval for the appointment. The updated SOPs also impose stricter requirements regarding the duties and reporting obligations of Special Messengers. They must ensure service of notices before the scheduled court date and submit a detailed report. If they fail to submit their report on time, they will be required to submit a written request for an extension; otherwise, the court will be notified about their conduct.
The new SOPs also clarify the fee and compensation system. Payments to Special Messengers will be calculated according to travel rules, transport allowance, daily allowance and the nature of the service location. These payments will follow fair rates applicable both within and outside cities such as Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur and Rawalpindi.
To make the entire process—from appointment to payments—more efficient, transparent and streamlined, the system has been digitized. A dedicated software system or module will be developed to automate fee collection and payments to Special Messengers, ensuring speed and transparency in financial management. Additionally, for land and property verification, the Deputy Registrar may designate officers with specialized expertise to act as Special Messengers, ensuring accuracy and professional oversight in sensitive property-related matters. These comprehensive SOPs represent a significant step by the Lahore High Court toward enhancing efficiency, justice and accountability in judicial processes.
