On September 8, the Sindh High Court (SHC) released new guidelines for district judges, judicial officers, and their staff regarding the use of social media, aiming to maintain the highest standards of judicial conduct and ethics. This move follows concerns from Chief Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar over ongoing violations of previously issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) from 2022.
In a letter from SHC’s Member Inspection Team (MIT-I), Haleem Ahmed, district and sessions judges, along with judicial officers across the province, were reminded of the importance of decorum, impartiality, and objectivity on all public and private forums, including social media platforms. The letter emphasized that any breach of these guidelines would be considered misconduct and would lead to disciplinary proceedings.
The guidelines stipulate that judicial officers and staff must not use their official titles or status to promote personal, political, or business interests on social media. Additionally, official or court-created digital groups are to be used solely for work-related purposes. The guidelines also prohibit participation in social media discussions or the forwarding of information or messages that convey opinions on political issues.
Judicial officers and staff are advised to exercise extreme caution when accepting friend or contact requests, particularly from individuals such as lawyers or litigants who may appear before the court, to avoid any perceptions of conflict of interest. Furthermore, they are instructed not to comment on, disclose, or discuss any official court proceedings or documents on social media platforms without prior approval from the competent authority.
The guidelines further prohibit any disparaging, derogatory, or disrespectful remarks aimed at any individual, group, sect, faith, or office, as such actions would lead to disciplinary measures. Additionally, officers and staff are warned against engaging in unauthorized discussions regarding official information or sharing documents encountered during their duties via social media. They are also directed not to further any information regarding government matters that appears to be unauthentic or misleading.
The overarching aim of these guidelines is to ensure that judicial officers and staff consistently uphold and demonstrate the highest standards of judicial conduct and ethics in all social media activities, safeguarding the dignity, independence, and impartiality expected of the judiciary.
