Federal Constitutional Court warns against premature circulation of judgements

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has issued a stern warning to judges regarding the premature circulation of incomplete or unannounced judgements, describing such actions as serious judicial misconduct and an offence that could undermine the integrity of the judicial process.

In a detailed judgement authored by FCC Justice Aamer Farooq and concurred with by Justice Rozi Khan Barrech, the bench addressed the issue of reserved verdicts and their timely announcement. The court emphasized that once a judgement is reserved, it must remain confidential until it is officially announced. The FCC stated that reserved rulings should be announced within 90 days, highlighting the importance of expeditious justice.

The judgement comes in the context of concerns over the premature uploading of verdicts by at least two judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the Tyrian White case. The FCC's ruling suggests that these judges may face scrutiny for their actions, as the court considers the early circulation of judgements to be a grave matter.

At the same time, the FCC criticized excessive delays in delivering reserved judgements. In the specific case reviewed, the Sindh High Court had taken 10 months to announce a judgement. The FCC noted that such delays "cast a reflection on the bench" for not administering justice in a timely manner.

The court's observations underscore the dual responsibility of judges: to avoid both premature disclosure of judgements and undue delays in their announcement. The FCC's decision is seen as a move to uphold the integrity and efficiency of the judicial process, ensuring that justice is both fair and prompt.