Supreme Judicial Council Dismisses 10 Complaints Against Judges Citing Insufficient Evidence

The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has closed 10 complaints against judges due to insufficient evidence, a move aimed at streamlining the judicial accountability process. The session, led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, saw the participation of Justices Mansoor Ali Shah, Muneeb Akhtar, Chief Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court, and Chief Justice Hashim Kakar of the Baluchistan High Court.

An official communiqué stated that the council examined the cases, which included allegations against judges for breaches under Article 209(8) of the Code of Conduct. All complaints were dismissed after review, as they did not meet the necessary evidentiary threshold.

The SJC reiterated that the code of conduct applies beyond judges to other relevant entities, signaling an expansion of its consultative scope. The council plans to assess potential amendments to the code in its next session.

To enhance efficiency, the council announced that meetings would now be held monthly to accelerate the resolution of pending complaints. Additionally, the council warned that individuals submitting unfounded allegations could face disciplinary action.

The communiqué did not disclose the names of the judges involved in the dismissed cases. However, reports indicated that one complaint pertained to the academic credentials of an Islamabad High Court judge.

The session also focused on establishing procedural rules and a separate secretariat for the SJC. The council approved recommendations from the registrar, with a commitment to present the finalized rules in future meetings. Chief Justice Afridi was empowered to appoint a secretary with a three-month term to oversee the development of these rules and manage human resources for the secretariat.