More than three dozen complaints against superior court judges pending with the Council. PHOTO: FILE
The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) is set to initiate proceedings against two superior courts judges for their alleged misconduct. The SJC is a body of judges empowered under Article 209 of the Constitution to hear cases of misconduct against top judges.
Sources told The Express Tribune that the SJC will meet on November 12 to take up complaints of alleged misconduct against Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Shahid Hameed Dar of the Lahore High Court (LHC). Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali will preside over the proceedings.
The SJC has taken action against the two judges based on complaints reported by different newspapers. A senior law officer said the SJC has the authority to initiate proceedings of misconduct against judges on its own. In its November 12 meeting, the SJC would decide the maintainability of the complaints, and, if convinced, it may issue notices to relevant parties, including the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP).
The council is invoking its jurisdiction under Article 209 of the Constitution against superior court judges after eight years. Last time the SJC had proceeded against former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in 2007, though the action was later suspended by the Supreme Court.
According to Article 209 of the Constitution, the SJC comprises the chief justice of Pakistan, two senior most judges of the Supreme Court and as many senior-most chief justices of high courts. The council is also empowered to hear complaints against top government functionaries such as NAB chairman, ECP members, AGP, etc. SJC’s proceedings are always in-camera and the Supreme Court registrar serves as secretary to the council.
The Express Tribune has learnt that more than three dozen complaints are pending with the council. In the recent past, lack of self-accountability within the judiciary has been questioned. Keeping in view these concerns, Chief Justice Jamali in his first speech on September 14 vowed to make the SJC effective for hearing complaints against judges.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2015.
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