Judicial officers urged to learn to face criticism
By Hina Kiyani

ISLAMABAD—Director General Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) Moazzam Hayat, Monday advised the newly inducted civil judges -cum-judicial magistrates from Punjab to learn how to face criticism saying, “You will have to learn not only to face criticism but also to bear it in mind not to be influenced by it in any situation.”
Addressing the participants of a six-week pre-service training course for Civil Judges-cum- Judicial Magistrates from Punjab, most of them are seasoned lawyers and have already worked around six months in the field as Judicial Officers, DG of the Academy said that a judge is always under a constant scrutiny both of the public and the media.
“As you are now on the other side of the bench as ‘Judges’ hence, you will have to be under scrutiny not only of public but also of your former colleagues in the legal profession. So you will have to demonstrate with your conduct that you are worthy of what you are deciding and criticism should be taken as a guidance to improve things” he said.
About a good judge that whether good judges are born or can they be made he said: We come across this moot point in every judicial arena. In my view inborn and inherent qualities do play a significant role in making a good judge but this is also true that sincere efforts made by an individual, not having inborn qualities shall make him a really good judge. He or she shall also achieve his/her goal by sheer hard work and by dedication.
Speaking about the powers of a judge he said that there was no doubt that the judges have ample powers under the Civil Procedure Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure. “You shall be exercising these powers to decide what is right, what is wrong and who is guilty and who is innocent. Allah is the greatest of all judges.
He has delegated His powers to you. As delegates if God Almighty you have to exercise these powers honestly, justly and fairly, uninfluenced by all extraneous and worldly pressures. Please keep in your mind, at all times, that one day we all have to appear before the Munsif-e- Alla”. As His trustees and delegatees the yardstick for accountability of judges shall be more strict and severe” he emphasized.
Regarding Judicial Ethics Mr. Moazzam Hayat said that a judge should not only look like a judge but also behave like a judge at all places and at all times. “When you are talking, you are standing, you are sitting or even when you are in the company of your intimate friends you have to be moderate and never aggressive or abusive. Your talk has to be soft but at the same confident.
He advised the fifty-two trainee judges to be efficient, disciplined and honest and administer speedy justice to the justice seekers.