Top court adjourns SJC reference plea

Petition seeks to disclose total number of reference, complaints filed

ISLAMABAD: The top court has adjourned a constitutional plea for indefinite period seeking the disclosure of the total number of references and complaints before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against judges of superior courts.

The constitutional petition was moved under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution by then-Punjab Bar Council Executive Committee Chairman Mumtaz Mustafa through Akram Sheikh.

The petition requested the apex court to direct the SJC to dispose of all references filed against judges as expeditiously as possible.



The petitioner also prayed the apex court to publically disclose the total number of references and complaints filed before it since its constitution, the number of cases where proceedings were initiated, how many references and complaints were dropped after consideration, and how many references and complaints have become infructuous.

During the hearing, Akram Sheikh, the counsel for applicant appearing before the bench objected that the chief justice cannot hear this case as he is the chairman of Supreme Judicial Council.

However, the chief justice said that the court is not bound to share the details of cases pending against the superior court judges before the SJC.   Subsequently, the bench has adjourned the case until winter vacations. It is to be noted that incumbent CJP will retire soon after the winter vacations.