The Supreme Court has released a preliminary draft of revised Judicial Commission Rules governing the appointment of judges, inviting public feedback through its official website.
The proposed rules emphasize merit-based selection, encompassing professional qualifications, legal competence, reputation, and independence from external pressures. The draft also highlights the need for adequate representation of advocates and session judges in nominations and calls for equitable representation of all High Courts for Supreme Court appointments.
Key provisions include:
Supreme Court Appointments: To be made from the five most senior High Court judges.
High Court Chief Justices: Selected from among the three most senior judges.
Nomination Criteria: Candidates must provide details of criminal, civil, family, or government cases they handled, including five reported or significant decisions.
Tax and Conduct Details: Annual tax payments and records of complaints or misconduct must be disclosed.
The draft proposes repealing the 2010 Judicial Commission Rules and introduces a voting process within the commission after thorough consideration of nominees. It mandates that directly or indirectly influencing any member to secure a nomination will result in disqualification.
For High Court and Federal Sharia Court appointments, the draft aligns merit criteria with constitutional requirements, evaluating nominees on competence, integrity, independence, and communication skills.
Public responses to the draft are anticipated to shape the final rules, which aim to ensure transparency, fairness, and professionalism in judicial appointments.