Supreme Court Rules, 2025
Supreme Court Rules, 2025 are made by the Supreme Court in exercise of the powers conferred under Article 191 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973. These rules replace the Supreme Court Rules, 1980. Supreme Court Rules, 2025 aim to modernize judicial practice, provide procedural clarity, and integrate technological advancements making the rules a ‘living document’ responsive to the needs of the bench, the bar, and litigants.
The Registrar shall be the head of the Court and shall maintain all court records. The Court’s seal shall be in the custody of the Registrar. The appellant and the respondent may submit to the Registry the required number of copies of their concise statements, along with soft/scanned copies of the facts of the case and arguments, at any time before the appeal is set down for hearing. Video-link applications may be filed no later than 9:00 a.m. on the day when the case is fixed for hearing.
Order IV explains the rules regarding senior advocates and advocates-on-record, including their dress, qualifications for obtaining a license as an advocate of the Supreme Court, qualifications of advocates-on-record, and the signing fee of Rs. 20,000 charged from advocates and senior advocates. Order V outlines the business exercised in chambers by the Registrar and by single-judge benches. The Court shall not receive any petition, affidavit, or other document except original exhibits and certified copies. Order VIII provides that affidavits shall be drawn up in the first person, divided into consecutively numbered paragraphs, and shall state the affiant’s description, occupation, and CNIC number. Order XI deals with constitutional benches. Under these rules, every cause, appeal, or matter shall be heard and disposed of by a bench of not less than three judges nominated by the committee. Order XXV deals with petitions for leave to appeal under Article 212(3) of the Constitution and Order XXVI deals with applications for the enforcement of fundamental rights. Order XXVIII allows the Court to review its judgments in civil proceedings and Order XXIX deals with proceedings relating to contempt of court.
Criminal appeals under sub-clauses (a), (b), and (c) of clause 2 of Article 185 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 shall be filed within sixty days from the date of judgment or final order. No court fee, process fee, or search fee shall be charged for petitions filed from jail.
The intra-court appeal shall lie against an order from a constitutional bench of this Court exercising jurisdiction under clause (3) of Article 184 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973. Similarly, an appeal lies from a bench of this Court exercising competent jurisdiction to a larger bench, as provided by law. The respondent in an intra-court appeal may file objections within thirty days of service.
In petitions for leave to appeal in civil proceedings, the petitioner submits three paper books to a three-member bench and two paper books to a two-member bench. Where an appellant desires to withdraw an appeal, the application shall be made to the Court.
Part B of Order XXX provides that witnesses residing more than five miles from the court shall be reimbursed for travel expenses. Order XXXV outlines the inherent powers of the Court. Order XXXVIII deals with appeals and petitions under Article 203F of the Constitution.
The First Schedule explains senior advocates and other advocates. The Second Schedule deals with fees to advocates, the Third Schedule deals with court fees, and the Fourth Schedule deals with fees for advocates-on-record.
The Sixth Schedule provides instructions for writing judgments and orders and includes various proformas for notices, judgments, certificates, summons, indexes, applications, undertakings, memoranda of objection, memoranda of appearance in person, and affidavits.
