LHC moved against interest-free loan to 11 judges

LAHORE: The decision of approving an interest-free loan of Rs360 million to 11 judges of the High Court was challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC).

The application has been filed on behalf of a citizen, Mashkoor Hussain. The applicant has made chief secretary, finance secretary and others party in the dispute.

The caretaker government of Punjab had approved interest-free loans of over Rs36 crore (Rs360 million) to 11 judges of the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Punjab govt approves Rs361.49m interest-free loan for 11 judges

The loan was approved by the caretaker cabinet when it had okayed the budget of province for the caretaker tenure. Eleven judges of the high court will be given loans equal to their 36 basic salaries. The basic salary of these judges is more than nine lakh rupees per month. Loans to high court judges will be interest-free for a period of 12 years.

The applicant submitted that interest-free loans to judges is an illegal act. The judges are already enjoying numerous privileges. The caretaker government is not authorised to dole out public money indiscriminately.

The applicant prayed the court to declare the decision of the caretaker government to grant loans to the judges null and void. He also requested the court to declare the approval of loan to the judges illegal and grant injunction against dispensation of loan pending the final decision.