LHC directs district court judges to stop using social media

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has once again directed judges of the district judiciary in Punjab to stop using the social media websites and applications, in strict adherence to their code of conduct.

A directive, issued by the registrar to the district & sessions judges of the province, said that Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti has taken serious notice of the elements exhibiting misconduct and bringing bad image to the institution of judiciary.

“A judicial officer is supposed to lead a reserved social life, therefore, he should avoid using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and such other social media applications, etc,” states the directive. It says all kinds of unofficial whatsapp groups and other social media modes, unauthorised sharing of any kind of privileged information through any media mode and use of mobile-phones during the court hours (except internal) is strictly prohibited. It also reminded the judges that exertion of any kind of influence for seeking choice posting/ transfer by any officer would entail stern disciplinary action. The directive warns the judicial officers against keeping and displaying blue light on official or private vehicles and also the use of green number-plates on their private vehicles. It states that the violators of the code of conduct would face strict disciplinary action.

Similar instructions have also been issued to the judges in February this year by the then chief justice.