SC issues guidelines for judges to follow on using social media

Staff Reporter :
The Supreme Court (SC) administration has issued a circular to compel judicial officers to follow certain guidelines in the use of social media or Facebook.
The Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry on Sunday withdrew District Judge Iman Ali Shaikh allegedly for criticising Islam practices and rituals in a comment on social media platform, Facebook.
According to the circular issued by SK Tofail Hasan, Registrar (Judicial) of the High Court Division said on Sunday that the judge was attached to the Law Ministry after being withdrawn as a judge of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal of Sherpur.
He said that the Ministry withdrew the judge on Sunday after consulting with the Supreme Court.
The Ministry on Saturday sought Supreme Court’s opinion to withdraw the judge.
Judge Iman Ali Shaikh refused to comment on his withdrawal.
He said that he was now staying in Dhaka on orders from his controlling authorities.
The High Court in a notification on Sunday asked all the judicial officers to strictly follow guidelines issued on September 22, 2019 on the use of social media by the judges.
According to the circular, most of the judicial officers are not abiding the guidelines that issued on September 22, 2019 regarding use of social media.
The circular also stated that some judicial officers are using social media during working hours by uploading photos or videos taken while on duty in their chambers or workplaces. They are also uploading photos that violate their personal privacy and security as public posts on social media. Even, they share photos, videos or content uploaded by others or make unnecessary comments on them, the circular read.
Apart from it, some judicial officers have also commenting or sharing on political and religious sensitive topics, the circular said adding that they are uploading pictures of unnecessary and unimportant events on social media including opening channels under their own or pseudonyms on YouTube or any other channel and uploading videos.
As a result of such activities of some judicial officers, negative image of the judiciary is being created in the public mind, which is unexpected, the circular said.
In this situation, the SC administration has instructed the judicial officers to abide by the circular issued on September 22, 2019 regarding the use of social media.
Besides, judicial officials have been asked to avoid 11 points in the use of social media and also asked to follow eight points, the circular added.
According to the circular, the judges must avoid the 11 elements includes — 1. Publication and dissemination of any information, comments and sentiments contrary to national unity and spirit. 2. Publishing or disseminate any information, comments or sentiments likely to hurt the religious sentiments of any community. 3. Publishing and disseminating any information, comments or sentiments related to political ideology or discussion. 4. Publish and disseminate any information, comments or sentiments that discriminate or denigrate any community. 5. Publish and disseminate any information, comments or sentiments defaming any person, organisation or state. 6. Publish and disseminate any information, comments or sentiments that discriminate against gender. 7. Publish and disseminate any information, comments or sentiments likely to create disaffection and unpleasant sentiment in the public mind. 8. Expressing or promoting adverse comments or personal feelings regarding any case, 9. Expressing or propagating any adverse comment or personal sentiment regarding any decision of the controlling authority or competent authority. 10. Publication and dissemination of photographs or video clips of judges of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. 11. Attaching, sharing, publishing and promoting any irrelevant, unnecessary, defamatory and unethical status, post, link, image etc to others.
The circular asked judges to follow the eight matters that include –1. Care must be taken in selecting and selecting texts, images, audios, videos etc. published on social media. 2. To be sure about the accuracy and reliability of published information and data. 3. Care and judgment must be exercised in sharing, disclosing and disseminating personal and family information. 4. Unnecessary and unimportant information, status or post should not be given. 5. There may be a portal, group for judicial officers. Where only legal matters can be discussed and information exchanged except for pending cases and personal matters. 6. Use social media responsibly and judiciously and adhere to state regulations. 7. Extreme caution should be exercised in sharing information and selecting friends. No person or organisation involved in case management or case interest in their workplace shall be accepted as friends in personal account on social media and 8. Social media should also reflect the norms, dos and don’ts regarding interactions with colleagues in real and natural situations.