LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Tuesday kicked off the sesquicentennial (150-year) celebrations of the court at a ceremony also joined by former chief justices and senior lawyers.

In his inaugural speech, Justice Shah said the purpose of celebrating 150th anniversary of the LHC was to make people know that the judiciary was active to protect their rightsand reforms were being introduced in the justice system.

The chief justice emphasised the preservation of history of the high court that proved to be a milestone for a formal justice system and dispensation of justice in Punjab.

He said, `We should not forget to mention that LHC`s history starts from 1866 and that there was no formal judicial system prior to this.

The chief justice urged the judges to work hard to provide justice to the masses because it was their prime and the most important duty. Hesaid judges must not have fear of anyone while dispensing justice. He lauded the role of the bars for their continuous struggle for the supremacy of law and termed them an integral part of the judicial system.

The Punjab Bar Council announced boycotting the celebrations because of the disciplinary actions taken by a supervisory committee of the LHC. However, representatives of the Lahore High Court Bar Association and others participated in the inaugural ceremony.