ISLAMABAD, March 9: Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Division Wasi Zafar on Friday said that the reference filed by the president before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), against Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary was in accordance with the Article 209 of the Constitution.

Explaining the procedure regarding the proceeding of the Supreme Judicial Council, the minister said the council, consisting of three senior-most judges of the Supreme Court and two senior-most Chief Justices from the four High Courts of the country, would hear the reference under the provisions/clauses of Article 209. A sub-section of the article explains the constitution of the Supreme Judicial Council and its functioning.

The minister said the Supreme Judicial Council was responsible for hearing complaints of misconduct against judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, coming before it in the form of references filed by the president as well as complaints by any citizen.

According to the Constitution, if a reference is filed against anyone who is also a member of Supreme Judicial Council, he will be stopped from carrying out his judicial responsibilities with immediate effect and the next available senior-most judge will replace him.

Some experts told APP that the Supreme Judicial Council would send its recommendations to the president.—APP