Overview

• An 11‑page judgment authored by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail held that only the Supreme Judicial Council may inquire into alleged misconduct of superior‑court judges and quashed a contempt move initiated within the court.
• The court ruled that judges cannot issue writs against, or pursue contempt proceedings against, fellow judges of the same court, reinforcing equal status and internal discipline.
• A separate 55‑page Constitutional Bench judgment, by 3–2 majority, affirmed the president’s authority under Article 200 to transfer high court judges, subject to the judge’s consent and consultations with relevant chief justices.
• Transfers were clarified as reassignments rather than fresh appointments, and seniority questions were remanded to the president for decision after reviewing service records.
• Petitions by five IHC judges challenging administrative actions remain under procedural scrutiny, senior lawyers have publicly backed the judges’ stance on SJC exclusivity, and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri’s challenge to restraints on his work is listed in the Supreme Court for September 29.