Overview
- The Supreme Judicial Council approved the amendments by majority vote and said they will be gazetted, circulated to higher-court judges, and posted online.
- The revised code prohibits judges from engaging in public debate or interacting with the media, reversing a recent allowance for public responses to allegations.
- A new mechanism requires judges to report attempts at extraneous influence in writing for committee review, with decisions expected within a fortnight and built-in escalation.
- The rules add wide limits on extra‑judicial conduct, including restrictions on gifts and hospitality, attendance at events, foreign invitations, business dealings, and extra duties.
- The SJC reviewed 74 complaints in its latest sitting and reports 155 handled since October 2024, with 87 complaints still pending initial consideration.