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Thursday March 28, 2024

Judges must deliver judgments without fear: CJ

By Sohail Khan
December 15, 2015

Says proceedings initiated
against superior court judges for violating code of conduct

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Anwar Zaheer Jamali Monday said all the superior court judges were required to render their services without any fear and deliver judgments in accordance with the law.

Addressing a full court reference here at the Supreme Court on the retirement of Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, the chief justice said the proceedings of complaints against the superior court judges were being initiated for violating the code of conduct.

He said an effective system was available for taking action against judges for violating the code of conduct.He said every institution was required to abide by the rules and regulations for its proper functioning adding that the code of conduct for superior court judges was enshrined in Article 209 of the Constitution.

Justice Jamali said there was also a code of conduct for the subordinate judiciary, adding that if any judge, whether from low or superior judiciary, violated rules then there was a system in place to take action against him. He said whenever a complaint was received against any judge action is taken, adding that fulfilling the requirement of the Constitution and laws the action is being taken. The chief justice further said apart from superior court judges, code of conduct was also farmed for the lawyers and in case of violation disciplinary action can be taken against them in the available system.

“It is however unfortunate that in the recent past many lawyers violated the code of conduct in the lower courts and misbehaved with the judges but the respective bar councils have not taken any action against such lawyers”, the CJP added.In such a situation, he said, it is mandatory to take a quick action against such lawyers in order to avoid it in future.

The chief justice urged the lawyer community to abide by the code of conduct in order to bring improvement not only in the justice system, but to ensure that they belong to a noble profession and believe in the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution. Paying rich tribute to Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, the chief justice said he remained a judge in the higher judiciary for more than 14 years, including nine years as a judge of Lahore High Court, Chief Justice of Lahore High Court for one year and more than 4 years as a judge of Supreme Court.

As a colleague in the Supreme Court, the chief justice said he found Justice Chaudhry as the most committed and honest judge. The chief justice said due to his professional caliber, Justice Chaudhry kept a highly respectable status not only among the fellow Judges, but also among the lawyers community.

He further said Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry delivered remarkable judgments and remained part of the larger benches that delivered important judgments in constitutional matters.

The judgments of Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry are ample example of expertise on legal matters which would be a source of inspiration for the judges as well as for the lawyers in the future, he added.  

The full court reference was also addressed by Attorney General for Pakistan, Vice-Chairman Pakistan Council and the President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). Barrister Ali Zafar, President Supreme Court Bar Association, said the ultimate analysis that strengthened a body was the quality of its work and merit of its incumbents, particularly the head of the institution, and this is why the methods of appointment to all institutions become of fundamental importance.