PESHAWAR, Feb 26: The Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan on Tuesday banned visits by the judicial officers to the high court.

A circular was issued by the PHC Registrar Mohammad Salim Khan  Minakhel stating: “The judicial officers of the subordinate judiciary shall not visit the high court without being called by the high court or on prior appointment made at their request.”

The circular stated that the judicial officers visiting the high court would be received by the protocol officer at the ‘judges entrance’ at the time and date fixed for the visit.

The circular was issued to all the district and additional district  and sessions judges, senior civil judges, civil judges-cum-judicial magistrates and judicial officers working on ex-cadre posts.

It is learnt that the chief justice was annoyed at the visits by judicial officers to the high court. “In most of the cases, these officers got no work in the high court and were just paying courtesy calls on officials and judges,” a high court official said.

Justice Jan has already directed the judicial officers not to entertain their friends during duty hours and to remain punctual.