Tuesday, May 6, 2008, Rabi-ul-Sani 29, 1429    

FJA to train SBP’s adjudicators

SHR Jahfery

Islamabad—Judges, individually and collectively, must respect and honor the judicial office as a public trust and strive to enhance and maintain confidence in our legal system.

Maozzam Hayat, Director General Federal Judicial Academy ( FJA), expressed these views here Monday, while inaugurating the first ever one-week training course for Adjudicating Officers of State Bank of Pakistan being conducted here at the Federal Judicial Academy.

He said that the judge is an arbiter of facts and law for the resolution of disputes and is a highly visible symbol of government under the Rule of law. “A judge shall not allow family, social, political or other relationships to influence the judge’s judicial conduct or judgement.

A judge shall not lend the prestige of judicial office to advance the private interests of the judge or others; nor shall a judge convey or permit others to convey the impression that they are in a special position to influence the judge. A judge shall not testify voluntarily as a character witness”” he maintained.

About the Code of Judicial Conduct he said that it is intended to establish standards for ethical conduct of judges. It consists of broad statements called Canons, specific rules set forth in Sections under each Canon.

The duty to hear all proceedings fairly and with patience is not inconsistent with the duty to dispose promptly of the business of the court. Judges can be efficient and businesslike while being patient and deliberate” he noted.

“A judge must refrain from speech, gestures or other conduct and must require the same standard of conduct of others subject to the judge’s direction and control, he added.

He further said that training plays paramount part to enhance efficiency of the officers and this initiative of the State Bank of Pakistan management was commendable to initiate with the Federal Judicial Academy and seek our guidance as to benefit from the judicial wisdom and expertise and experience of the worthy faculty members.Director General expressed profound gratitude to the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chairman Board of Governors FJA, Mr. Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar who granted permission for this first ever training course for the Adjudicating Officers of the State Bank saying “this reflects keen interest of the Chief Justice of Pakistan for capacity building of the Sate institutions which directly or indirectly deal with the litigant public and with administration of justice”.