Supreme Court's Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar observed on Saturday that judicial education and training is the foundation for a proactive judiciary that properly administers and dispenses justice.
he further noted that a judge should not be "hot-headed".
Justice Mazhar's observations, however, came not as part of any judgement but while delivering remarks at a ceremony to award certificates for participants of the second Federal Judicial Education Programme (FJEP) at the Federal Judicial Academy.
While addressing trainees, Justice Mazhar remarked that a judge's attitude and courtroom behaviour matter a lot.
"A judge should not lose his patience with stubborn [litigants]," said Justice Mazhar, adding that normally, Bar Associations do not criticise decisions themselves; rather, their real issue is with a judge's attitude and behaviour.
He added that bar associations feel perturbed with the attitude [of judges].
"A little attention to this issue may also be given, certainly, you would be giving, but [this issue] it needs to be corrected."
Justice Mazhar noted that when someone gets angry too much, diseases such as blood pressure, sugar (diabetes), and others aggravate. "A judge should always be with his judicial temperament. A judge has a pen. He should run the court and write his judgment cool-headedly."
Highlighting the importance of writing judgments and recording evidence, he said: "Judgment Writing is an art, and in a criminal case, evidence is the foundation upon which both sides build their respective arguments.
"Judicial Academy must equip trainee judges with both these skills," he said, adding, "These skills not only help to provide expeditious justice to the litigant public but also enhance the image and perception about justice delivery."
Sharing a glimpse of his journey to becoming a judge of the top court, Justice Mazhar said, "Before my elevation as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, I was serving as a judge of the Sindh High Court (SHC), where I had the privilege of serving in various capacities, but one of the roles closest to my heart was my tenure as Acting Director General of Sindh Judicial Academy."
Justice Mazhar added that during his tenure, he always tried to take a dynamic and energetic approach towards judicial education and training, which is the foundation of a proactive judiciary for the proper administration and dispensation of justice.
Justice Mazhar appreciated the Academy's smart use of technology and social media, such as E-studios and YouTube, among others, to promote quality judicial education and training.
Earlier, the academy's Director General Hayat Ali Shah informed judges about their behaviour, conduct and etiquette in court.
"A team is a reflection of their leader. The way a leader behaves with his team, his team behaves with others in the same way," he said.
"Judges make important decisions that affect people's lives. Whosoever knocks at your door for justice should always go redressed and relieved, not traumatised," remarked the director general.
In the end, Justice Mazhar awarded certificates to 25 District and Sessions Judges and 30 Civil Judges/ Judicial Magistrates.