Supreme Judicial Council Approves Amendments to Judges’ Code of Conduct, Orders Further Action on Three Complaints

ISLAMABAD: The **Supreme Judicial Council (SJC)** has decided to proceed further on **three complaints** filed against judges, while **seventy out of seventy-four complaints** were dismissed and **one was deferred**, according to an official statement issued after the Council’s latest meeting.

The meeting reviewed complaints filed under **Article 209 of the Constitution**. In the **first phase**, 67 complaints were examined — **65 were dismissed**, one was deferred, and one was approved for further action.

In the **second phase**, the Council reviewed **seven additional complaints** after reconstituting the panel. **Justice Sarfraz Dogar** recused himself from these proceedings and was replaced by **Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court, Justice S.M. Atiq Shah**. Out of these seven cases, **five were dismissed**, while **two were approved for further proceedings**, bringing the total reviewed complaints to 74.

The Council also **approved significant amendments to the Judges’ Code of Conduct**, introducing new ethical and procedural guidelines.

According to the revised code:

A **judge must not hear any case** in which they have a **personal connection** with any party or lawyer involved.
Judges must **avoid involvement in public controversies** or expressing opinions — written or verbal — on ongoing political or legal matters in public forums.
Judges are prohibited from **engaging with the media** on issues that may provoke public debate or harm institutional integrity and discipline.
If a judge faces public allegations, they must **notify a five-member Supreme Court committee** headed by the **Chief Justice of Pakistan**, with four senior-most judges as members. The committee will issue an institutional response through the Registrar.
Judges must avoid **litigation or business dealings**, especially those involving speculation, industry, or commerce.
They may accept **minor gifts only from close relatives or friends** and must **not attend private meals hosted by Bar members**.
If invited personally to a conference, a judge should **request the invitation be sent officially through the Chief Justice**.
Any attempt to **influence a High Court judge** must be reported in writing to the **relevant Chief Justice, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, and four senior Supreme Court judges**.
Similarly, any **attempt to influence a Supreme Court judge** must be reported directly to the **Chief Justice of Pakistan** and the four senior-most judges, with the committee required to decide the matter **within 15 days**.

The amendments mark one of the most comprehensive overhauls of the judicial code in recent years, aiming to **strengthen accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct** within Pakistan’s judiciary.