PUNJAB JUDICIAL ACADEMY ACT, 2007

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THE PUNJAB JUDICIAL ACADEMY ACT 2007 
(XV of 2007) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Establishment of the Academy 
4. Functions of the Academy 
5. Manner of training 
6. Board of Management 
7. Meetings of the Board 
8. Powers and functions of the Board 
9. Director General 
10. Appointment of officers and staff 
10-A. Committees 
11. Fund 
12. Budget and accounts 
13. Audit 
14. Submission of report 
15. Rules 
15-A. Regulations 
16. Repeal 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB JUDICIAL ACADEMY ACT 2007 
(XV of 2007) 
[30th October, 2007] 
An 
Act 
to provide for the establishment of Judicial Academy in the Province of the Punjab. 
Preamble.– Whereas it is expedient to establish an academy for imparting training to 
the judicial officers and court personn el with a view to develop their capacity, 
professional competency and ethical standards for efficient dispensation of justice and 
matters ancillary thereto; 
It is hereby enacted as follows:– 
1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be cit ed as the 
Punjab Judicial Academy Act, 2007. 
 (2) It extends to the whole of the Punjab. 
 (3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definitions.– In this Act– 
(a) “Academy” means the Punjab Judicial Academy established under section 
3; 
(b) “Board” means the Board of Management of the Academy; 
(c) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Board; 
(d) “court personnel” means an employee of the establishment of the 
Lahore High Court, a court and a tribunal under the administrative 
control of the Lahore High Court; 
(e) “Director General” means the Director General of the Academy; 
(f) “faculty” means members of the teaching staff of the Academy; 
(g) “Fund” means the Judicial Training Fund; 
(h) “Government” means the Government of the Punjab; 
(i) “judicial officer” means a District Judge, a Sessions Judge, an Additional 
District Judge, an Additional Sessions Judge, a Senior Civil Judge, a Civil 
Judge, a Judicial Magistrate, a Special Judicial Magistrate or a presiding 
officer of a court or a tribunal under the administrative control of the Lahore 
High Court; 
(j) “member” means a member of the Board;  
                                                 
1This Act was passed by the Punjab Assembly on 5 October 2007; assented to by the  Governor of the Punjab on 29 October 
2007; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 30 October 2007, pages 1463-67. 
2
[(k) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules or regulations made or 
framed under this Act; 
(ka) “regulations” means the regulations framed under this Act; 
(kb) “rules” means the rules made under this Act; and] 
(l) “staff” means staff of the Academy. 
3. Establishment of the Academy .– (1) The Government shall, by notification,  
establish an Academy to be called the Punjab Judicial Academy. 
 (2) The Academy shall be a bod y corporate having perpetual succession 
and a common seal with power to enter into contract and may sue or be sued by the 
said name. 
 
3
[(3) The main campus of the Academy shall be at Lahore, however, the 
Board may, with the approval of the Government and b y a notification in the official 
Gazette, establish its sub-campuses at such places as the Board may determine.] 
4. Functions of the Academy.– The Academy shall– 
(a) impart pre -service and in -service training to the judicial officers and 
court personnel; 
4
[(aa) to ensure implementation of the provisions of this Act, rules and 
regulations;] 
(b) develop the skills and techniques for court management, case 
management, delay reduction, alternate dispute resolution and judgment 
writing; 
5
[(bb) prescribe the international judicial training standards;] 
(c) conduct examinations and award certificates and diplomas;  
(d) develop training courses relating to administration of justice including 
use of information technology; 
(e) hold conferences, seminars, lectures, wor kshops and symposia 
relating to court management, administration of justice, law and 
development and legislative drafting; 
(f) publish books, journals, research papers and reports on important 
topics relating to administration of justice; 
(g) promote research on case management, court management, trial skills 
and judicial reasoning; 
(h) encourage legal and constitutional research; 
                                                 
2Substituted by the Punjab Judicial Academy (Amendment) Act 202 5 (XLII of 202 5), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 30 May 2025, pp. 4789-4790, s.2. 
3Substituted by the Punjab Judicial Academy (Amendment) Act 202 5 (XLII of 202 5), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 30 May 2025, pp. 4789-4790, s.3. 
4Inserted by the Punjab Judicial Academy (Amendment) Act 202 5 (XLII of 202 5), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 30 May 2025, pp. 4789-4790, s.4(a). 
5Ibid, s 4(b). 
(i) inculcate and promote ethical values and standards in judicial officers 
and court personnel; 
(j) coordinate with other educa tional and training institutions including the 
Federal Judicial Academy; 
(k) conduct training and examinations of other officers and personnel on 
the direction of the Board; and 
(l) perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Board. 
5. Manner of training .– (1) The Academy shall use all modern techniques for 
imparting judicial training. Teaching methods and evaluation system shall be at par 
with international standards. 
 (2) The Academy may enter into arrangements with other recognized 
public and private institutions for imparting training. 
 (3) The Academy shall institute a quality examination and evaluation 
system with regard to the training imparted. 
6. Board of Management .– (1) The management and administration of the 
Academy shall vest in the Board. 
 (2) The Board shall consist of– 
(a) Chief Justice, Chairperson 
Lahore High Court;  
(b) two judges of the Lahore High members 
 Court nominated by the Chairperson; 
(c) Chairman, Planning & Development Board  member 
of the Government;  
(d) Registrar, Lahore High Court; member 
(e) Additional Chief Secretary of the Government member 
(f) Secretary to the Government, 
Finance Department member 
(g) Secretary to the Government, 
Law Parliamentary Affairs and Human member 
Rights Department; 
(h) Principal, Punjab University, Law College, member 
University of the Punjab, Lahore; 
(i) a District & Sessions Judge member 
nominated by the Chairperson; and 
(j) Director General member/Secretary 
 (3) The existence of a vacancy in the constitution of the Board shall not 
invalidate an act or proceedings of the Board. 
7. Meetings of the Board .– (1) The Board shall meet at least thrice in a 
calendar year. 
 (2) The Director General shall convene a meeting of the Board on the 
direction of Chairperson or written request of three or more members. 
 (3) In the meeting of the Board,– 
(a) the Chairperson, or in his absence, a member nominated by the 
Chairperson shall preside; 
(b) five members shall constitute the quorum;  
(c) all decisions of the Board shall be taken by simple majority; 
(d) the Chairperson or a member presiding shall have a casting vote; and 
(e) the Director General shall record the minutes of the meeting. 
8. Powers and functions of the Board.– (1) The Board shall– 
(a) exercise supervision and control over the affairs of the Academy; 
6
[(b) formulate policy and lay down sectoral planning and program for 
training and approve courses;] 
(c) evaluate or cause to be evaluated the performance of the Academy; 
(d) approve the annual budget and revised budget estimates of th e 
Academy; 
(e) cause proper books of accounts to be maintained for all sums of 
money received and expenditures incurred by the Academy and 
arrange for the audit of accounts; 
(f) determine the terms and conditions of service of the Director General 
and staff of the Academy; 
(g) create, abolish or upgrade a post;  
(h) appoint an officer in BS-16 or above; and 
(i) prescribe qualifications, conditions of service and other matters relating 
to faculty, officers and staff. 
(2) The Board may– 
(a) purchase, acquire,  hire, dispose of or construct any property for the 
Academy; 
(b) hold, control and administer the property of the Academy;  
(c) receive grants-in-aid and donations from the Federal Government, the 
Government or any other organization, person or agency; 
(d) regulate, determine and administer all matters concerning the Academy; 
(e) appoint advisors, consultants and experts for assistance; 
(f) appoint or hire permanent or visiting faculty; 
7
[(fa) frame regulations for conduct of its business; 
                                                 
6Substituted by the Punjab Judicial Academy (Amendment) Act 202 5 (XLII of 202 5), published in the Punja b Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 30 May 2025, pp. 4789-4790, s.5(a). 
7Added by the Punjab Judicial Academy (Amendment) Act 202 5 (XLII of 202 5), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 30 May 2025, pp. 4789- 4790, s.5(b). 
(fb) execute agreements, MoUs or any other legal instrument;] 
(g) assign a specific power to a person or organization; and 
(h) exercise any other power ancillary to the aims and objects of the Academy. 
(3) The Board may delegate all or any of its powers or functions to the  
Chairperson, a member or a committee of members.  
9. Director General.– (1) The Chairperson shall appoint the Director General of 
the Academy for a term of four years on the recommendation of the Board. 
 (2) The Director General may resign by tendering hi s resignation to the 
Chairperson and shall cease to hold office upon acceptance of his resignation. 
 (3) The Chairperson on the recommendation of the Board may, after 
providing an opportunity of being heard, remove the Director General during the term 
of his office. 
 (4) The Director General shall be a person who has been a Judge of the 
Lahore High Court or a District Judge of the Punjab. 
 (5) The Director General shall be the chief executive officer of the 
Academy and shall be responsible for the affairs of the Academy before the Board. 
 (6) The Director General shall be the principal accounting officer of the 
Academy. 
 (7) The Director General may, with the approval of the Chairperson, 
appoint staff in BS-1 to 15. 
 (8) The Director General shall, within tw o months of conclusion of each 
financial year, submit annual report to the Board containing performance and 
proposals for the improvement in the performance of the Academy. 
10. Appointment of officers and staff .– (1) The Board or the Director General 
may appoint officers and staff of the Academy in accordance with the provisions of 
this Act  
8
[, rules or regulations ] by direct recruitment, deputation, promotion or on 
contract basis. 
 (2) The Board shall 
9
[prescribe] the manner and the terms and conditions 
of appointment of officers and staff of the Academy. 
 (3) The Board shall prescribe qualification and experience of the teaching 
staff of the Academy taking into account, the qualification and experience prescribed 
for such staff in the world renowned Judicial Academies. 
10
[10-A. Committees .- (1) The Board may constitute committees having such 
members and functions as the Board may determine. 
                                                 
8Inserted by the Punjab Judicial Academy (Amendment) Act 202 5 (XLII of 202 5), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 30 May 2025, pp.4789- 4790, s.6(a). 
9Substituted for the word “determine’’ by the Punjab Judicial Academy (Amendment) Act 2025 (XLII of 2025), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30 May 2025, pp.4789- 4790, s.6(b). 
10Inserted by the Punjab Judicial Academy (Amendment) Act 202 5 (XLII of 202 5), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 30 May 2025, pp.4789- 4790, s.7. 
(2) The committees constituted under sub -section (1), may invite any 
technical expert or any Government functionary for  assistance in the performance of 
its functions.] 
11. Fund.– (1) There shall be a fund of the Academy to be known as the Judicial 
Training Fund.  
 (2) The Director General shall ensure the deposit of the income of the 
Academy in the Fund and incurring of the expenditures of the Academy from the Fund. 
(3) The sources of income of the Fund shall be– 
(a) grants made by the Federal Government or the Government; 
(b) donations, endowments and grants from any individual, organization or 
agency, whether national or international;  
(c) sale proceeds of the property and publications of the Academy; and 
(d) any other sum received by the Academy from any lawful source. 
(2) The Fund shall be kept in such custody, utilized and regulated in the 
prescribed manner. 
12. Budget and accounts.– (1) The Director General shall utilize the Budget and 
maintain the accounts of the Academy in the prescribed manner. 
 (2) The Director General shall prepare the Budget of the Academy for 
each financial year.  
 (3) The Director General shal l not incur any expenditure from the Fund 
without the approval of the Board. 
13. Audit.– (1) The Board shall appoint a chartered accountant or a firm of 
chartered accountants to audit the accounts of the Academy. 
 (2) The Director General, with the approval of the Board, within six months 
of the close of the financial year, shall submit to the Government the annual 
statement of accounts of the Academy alongwith the report of the auditor. 
14. Submission of report .– (1) The Director General shall, with the ap proval of 
the Board, within the period of six months, submit annual audit and performance 
reports to the Government which shall include the following:– 
 (a) details of courses run and designed by the Academy; 
 (b) details of examinations carried out by the Academy; 
 (c) research work done by  the Academy; 
 (d) the quality of training imparted at the Academy; and 
 (e) the standard of the students trained at the Academy. 
 (2) The Government shall, within two months of the receipt of the reports, 
submit the same before the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab. 
11
[15. Rules.- The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make 
rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.]  
12
[15-A. Regulations.- To give effect to the provisions of this Act, the Boar d may 
frame regulations not inconsistent with this Act or the rules made thereunder.] 
16. Repeal.– The Punjab Judicial Academy Ordinance 2007 (XV of 2007) is 
hereby repealed. 
                                                 
11Substituted by the Punjab Judicial Academy (Amendment) Act 202 5 (XLII of 202 5), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 30 May 2025, pp.4789- 4790, s.8. 
12Inserted by the Punjab Judicial Academy (Amendment) Act 202 5 (XLII of 202 5), pu blished in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 30 May 2025, pp.4789- 4790, s.9.