Page 100 - Muzaffargarh Gazzetteer

Chapter 7

DISTRICT JUDICIARY

During the colonial period the civil and criminal system in Muzaffargarh was
the same as in other parts of the province. The evolution of judiciary in the
district, as traced from the older gazetteers, has been as follows:
1929

In 1929, the civil courts in the district were as under:

i. The court of the District Judge (at Multan)
ii. The court of Senior Sub-Judge Muzaffargarh.
iii. Three courts of Sub-Judges; one each at Muzaffargarh,
Layyah and Alipur. (The Sub-Judge at Muzaffargarh was
having jurisdiction over Muzaffargarh and Kot Addu tehsils.)
An additional Sub-Judge was sometimes posted in the district. There were
two courts of Honorary Sub-Judges too; one for the Tehsil Muzaffargarh and
the other for the whole district.

There were 4 advocates and 17 pleaders at Muzaffargarh, 7 pleaders at Alipur
and 1 at Kot Addu. The Public Prosecutor used to be the Government Pleader.
There was an Official Receiver too whose headquarters were at Multan.
Similarly, 60 petition-writers had been sanctioned by the High Court for the
district.
On criminal side, the highest court was that of the District Magistrate.

1964

The District Magistrate, in 1964, was assisted by an Additional District
Magistrate and two Sub-Divisional Magistrates, i.e. one each at Alipur and
Layyah. The General Assistant as well as Treasury Officer also exercised
magisterial powers. Furthermore, all Tehsildars and Naib-Tehsildars were
invested with the powers of Class II and III Magistrates respectively.
There was a Public Prosecutor for the district at Muzaffargarh. There were
also Police Prosecuting Inspectors at Muzaffargarh, Layyah and Alipur.

The District and Sessions Judge, Multan as well as Additional District and
Sessions Judge, Multan used to visit Muzaffargarh for 1 week and 10 days
every month respectively. Besides, one Senior Civil Judge was also posted at

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