ISLAMABAD, Sept 27: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has observed that the public scrutinises judges from their decisions and they are before public eyes at all times.

Addressing a batch of 49 civil judges from Punjab at the Supreme Court on Thursday, he said: “Independence, politeness, humbleness and honesty are the qualities which make a judicial officer successful in public eyes”.

The civil judges were attending a pre-service training at the Federal Judicial Academy in Islamabad.

Justice Chaudhry said that judges should know the issues of people’s rights and try to resolve them in accordance with the law. Issues faced by the deprived class of society should be their main concern and judges should provide justice in an expeditious and meaningful manner.

According to a press release, he said the public perception on the independence of judiciary begins at the lower courts and it was there the judicial officers should ensure that decisions were taken speedily in accordance with the Constitution and rule of law.

“Hence, the responsibility is upon your shoulders to ensure the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution,” he added. The chief justice asked the judges to enhance their knowledge in new areas of concern.

He said the basic purpose of their training was to build up their personalities and enable them to become good judicial officers.

He advised the trainee judges that they should study the basic facts and foundations of jurisprudence to enhance their knowledge on judiciary. He said the profession of judiciary was a missionary one and advised judges to should pursue it zealously.

The director-general of the academy introduced the trainee judges to the chief justice. He claimed that the court had truly demonstrated that the judiciary was the custodian and guardian of the constitution. Earlier, the trainees visited the court room and attended court proceedings.