Islamabad: The Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that the protection of the rights of minors is a fundamental duty of the judiciary, declaring that no decision or settlement in any case involving a minor party will be legally valid without the appointment of an impartial guardian and thorough judicial scrutiny.
In a landmark judgment regarding the protection of the rights of minors, the Court established that in every legal proceeding where a minor is a party, the appointment of a guardian ad litem (an impartial guardian for the litigation) is mandatory.
Furthermore, all settlements reached in cases involving minors, the elderly, or purdah-nashin (secluded) women must be subject to rigorous judicial oversight.
The Court’s ruling directs that at the initiation of any civil or revenue case, the presiding judge must first determine whether any of the parties involved are minors. If a minor is identified, the case cannot be adjudicated until the protection of their legal rights is fully guaranteed.
The judgment emphasizes that the appointed guardian must have no personal interest in the outcome of the case, ensuring that the minor’s interests remain the primary focus.
Additionally, the Court cautioned against unnecessary haste in property disputes involving minors, insisting that the “best interests of the child” must be prioritized at every stage of the proceedings.
To ensure strict compliance, the Federal Constitutional Court has ordered that copies of this judgment be circulated to all civil and revenue courts across the country.
In the specific case at hand, the Court set aside a previous verdict by the Lahore High Court and directed the trial court to resume proceedings in accordance with the law.
The petitioner had challenged a civil court decision, arguing that the court had failed to adequately protect the rights of minor children when formalizing a settlement. The Federal Constitutional Court’s ruling establishes a definitive legal precedent to prevent such lapses in the future.