LAHORE: The Punjab government has proposed key amendments to the law governing its judicial academy, relocating its main campus, expanding its training mandate and revising eligibility criteria for top leadership and faculty, according to documents from the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department.
According to detailed proposals approved by the Cabinet Standing Committee for Legislative Business (SCCLB), the amendments envisage relocation of the academy’s principal seat, expansion of its functions and a substantial revision of criteria for the appointment of its leadership and faculty.
One of the key changes relates to Section 3(3) concerning the establishment of the academy. The amendment proposes shifting the main campus from Lahore to Kala Shah Kaku, situated in Tehsil Ferozewala of District Sheikhupura. Officials said the relocation is intended to facilitate expansion and provide a more conducive environment for academic and residential training facilities. The provision empowering the board to establish sub-campuses, subject to government approval and notification in the official Gazette, would remain intact, allowing the academy to extend its footprint across the province.
In a move signalling a broader institutional role, the government has proposed insertion of a new clause, Section 4(ja), in the law dealing with the functions of the academy. The clause would authorise the institution to impart training to officers not only from government departments and autonomous bodies but also from private organisations, subject to approval of the Board. The proposed addition is being viewed as an effort to position the academy as a centre for professional capacity building across multiple sectors, beyond its traditional judicial and public administration focus.
The amendments also introduce a notable shift in the eligibility criteria for the post of Director General under Section 9(4). At present, the position is restricted to individuals who have served as judges of the Lahore High Court or as district judges in Punjab. The revised provision significantly broadens this scope by allowing the appointment of individuals holding a doctoral degree with at least 25 years of teaching experience, as well as those who have served as vice chancellors of universities established under any law in force. The proposed change is aimed at bringing academic and administrative expertise into the leadership of the institution, alongside judicial experience.
Further, the government has proposed amendments to Section 10(3), which deals with the appointment of officers and staff. The existing provision requires the Board to determine qualifications and experience of teaching staff in line with standards of internationally reputed judicial academies. The new proposal replaces this general guideline with a specific requirement that the academy shall appoint permanent faculty members possessing PhD degrees in English, Urdu, Law, or Psychology. Officials indicated that the move is intended to standardise academic qualifications and strengthen the intellectual and pedagogical foundation of the academy.
Sources in the department said the proposed amendments form part of a broader effort to align the academy’s structure and functions with contemporary training needs, including interdisciplinary learning, research-based instruction and professional development across sectors. The inclusion of disciplines such as psychology and languages in the mandatory faculty requirements reflects an emphasis on communication skills, behavioural understanding and analytical capacity in judicial and administrative training.
The relocation of the main campus, coupled with the authority to establish sub-campuses, is also expected to improve accessibility and enable the academy to cater to a larger number of trainees from different regions of Punjab.
The proposals are expected to undergo further scrutiny and follow the prescribed legislative process before enactment. Officials maintained that once approved, the amendments would mark a significant step towards strengthening institutional training mechanisms and improving governance standards in the province.
