The Supreme Court administration has directed subordinate court judges to refrain from posting unnecessary statuses or comments on social media that could violate service discipline.
A notification issued by the Supreme Court on Wednesday revealed this development, citing concerns that some judicial officers are not adhering to previous instructions issued on September 22, 2019, and April 16, 2023, regarding social media use.
The notification described the issue as "undesired" and "unintended."
It also noted that some judges have been using social media during working hours, while others have made adverse comments about their appointing and controlling authorities, acts that are contrary to service discipline and could be considered misconduct.
The chief justice has ordered strict compliance with the 2019 and 2023 guidelines on social media use. Judges have been warned not to post any unnecessary statuses or comments that go against job discipline.
The administration emphasized that social media activity by judicial officers must comply with the country's existing laws and regulations.
Failure to comply with these directives will be treated as misconduct and could lead to disciplinary actions under the Bangladesh Judicial Service (Discipline) Rules, 2017, along with other relevant laws and regulations.
The 2019 circular listed avoiding posting or sharing any information, comments, or sentiments against national unity or spirit, sharing content that could hurt the religious sentiments of any community, posting politically charged content or discussions, sharing information or comments that discriminate or defame any community, person, organization, or the state, posting gender-discriminatory content, sharing comments that create public disaffection or ill will, making adverse comments or expressing personal feelings regarding cases or decisions of regulatory authorities, posting or sharing images or videos of Supreme Court judges, tagging, sharing, or promoting defamatory, unnecessary, or unethical content.
Judges were also reminded to be cautious when posting text, images, audio, or videos, verify the accuracy and reliability of any information shared, exercise discretion in sharing personal and family details, avoid posting on unnecessary or trivial matters, behave responsibly and abide by state regulations, refrain from befriending any person or organization involved in ongoing cases on personal social media accounts, and ensure that social media interactions reflect the same rules and decorum required in professional settings.
The 2023 circular added further restrictions, including a ban on using social media during working hours and uploading images or videos taken in chambers or workplaces. It also prohibited sharing politically or religiously sensitive content and opening personal YouTube channels or similar platforms under one's own or a pseudonym. Such activities were deemed damaging to the public image of the judiciary, according to the notification.