NJC plans to stop publication of petitions against judges

The National Judicial Council is set to bar media reportage of allegations of misconduct levelled against judges and employees of the judiciary. This is contained in the National Judicial Policy to be launched by the NJC on Monday. The policy will widen the dark veil that shields disciplinary proceedings against judges. Under the new policy, the NJC or any institutions of the judiciary shall discard a complaint sent against a judge or employee of the judiciary for investigation if after receiving the complaint it is leaked or discussed in the media. The policy partly read, “lt shall be the policy of the judiciary on complaints that allegations of misconduct against judicial officers or employees of the judiciary shall not be leaked or published in the media. “Where complaints on allegations against judicial officers and court employees are submitted for investigation, the complainant or complainants shall be made to give an undertaking not to do anything to prejudice investigation or actions that may be taken. “The institutions of the judiciary concerned with investigation or and implementation of decisions taken on such complaints shall be obliged to cease further action where such complaints are leaked or discussed in the media.

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