The Sindh High Court (SHC) has released new social media guidelines for district judges, judicial officers, and court staff to ensure strict adherence to judicial ethics and conduct.
According to a letter issued by SHC’s Member Inspection Team (MIT-I) Haleem Ahmed, Chief Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar expressed concern over repeated violations of earlier SOPs on social media use, first issued in 2022. The chief justice has now introduced additional directives for compliance, making it clear that any breach will be considered misconduct and lead to disciplinary action.
The Sindh High Court social media guidelines direct judicial officers and staff to uphold decorum, impartiality, and objectivity across both public and private forums. They are prohibited from using official designations, titles, or positions to promote personal, political, or business agendas. Court-created groups on platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram are strictly limited to professional use.
The notification also emphasizes that judges and staff must not comment on pending or decided cases, judiciary-related policies, or share official documents without approval. Political, sectarian, or caste-based opinions are banned, while disparaging or derogatory remarks on social media may result in disciplinary proceedings.
Additionally, officers and staff have been instructed to avoid accepting friend or contact requests from lawyers, litigants, or anyone linked to court proceedings, to prevent conflicts of interest. They must not circulate unverified or misleading information related to government or judicial matters.
The Sindh High Court social media guidelines reiterate that all judicial officers and staff must safeguard the dignity, independence, and impartiality of the judiciary by exercising utmost caution online.