MUZAFFARABAD, March 27: A civil judge in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir has tendered resignation in protest against the treatment meted out to non-functional Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, marking the first ever resignation over the issue in a territory which has a separate judicial system.

Raja Faisal Majeed Khan, who was based in Forward Kahuta (Bagh district) told reporters here on Tuesday that he had sent his resignation to the High Court “for the freedom, independence and dignity of judiciary”.

“The non-functional chief justice of Pakistan is a role model for judges, lawyers and law students and the treatment meted out to him is regrettable,” he said.

Mr Khan, who earned his LLB degree in 1998, was inducted in the subordinate judiciary as Rawalakot civil judge in March 2002. He was transferred to Forward Kahuta in November last year.