SJC restrains media from commenting on its proceedings

Author: Daily Times Monitor

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) – which hears complaints against superior courts judges – has restrained the media from commenting on the upcoming proceedings of a case against Islamabad High Court’s Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, a private TV channel reported.

The five-member SJC led by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has issued a written order, which says proceedings of the council will be reported in the matter related to IHC judge but no public comments shall be made. “We direct that no media discussion, articles or editorials shall be written or published in this matter and no public comments shall be made…only proceedings of the council shall be reported,” said the two-page order.

The order, however, notes that this council shall be entitled to revert to in-camera proceedings in case there arises a situation as ‘contemplated in the apex court’s May 10, 2018 order. “We allow the proceedings in this matter to be held in open court subject to the restrictive measures taken by the council regarding attendance and presence of persons in court,” said the order. The SJC will resume hearing on July 30.

It is for the first time that inquiry against any superior court judge will be conducted in open court. The SJC’s rules say inquiry against a judge will be held in-camera. In the complaint pending against the IHC judge since 2015, eight allegations have been levelled against him.

The apex court in its judgment observed that if there is a reasonable apprehension that the judge whose capacity or conduct is being inquired into or his lawyers are likely to indulge in scurrilous and scandalous allegations against the SJC or its members especially with the intention to publicise the same so as to hamper the SJC from fulfilling its obligations, the SJC can always direct that the proceedings before it be conducted in camera, even if such judge has waived his privilege of in camera proceedings.

“Such a course of action would be in accordance with the well-recognised and established exceptions to open justice. Such exceptions have been enumerated hereinabove. In-camera proceedings can also be resorted to despite the desire of a person whose conduct and capacity are being inquired into, if any of the aforesaid exceptions, in the information of the SJC exist,” it said.

The order said the obvious purpose of the in-camera proceeding is the protection of the rights and reputation of the person whose conduct and capacity are being inquired into and the protection of the institution of the judiciary, including members of the SJC.

Published in Daily Times, July 18^th2018.