Chief Justice Abdul Ghanee Mohamed has stressed that judges must always maintain high standards of personal conduct and behaviour.
He made the remarks while speaking at a ceremony to swear in judges.
The Chief Justice advised judges to uphold ethical standards both in the discharge of their official duties and in their personal lives. He emphasised that judicial office carries a significant responsibility and urged judges to protect the rights of citizens, describing this as a key duty in upholding the Constitution.
He also noted that becoming a judge requires changes to one's personal life and that judges must conduct themselves in a manner that meets public expectations.
“Judges must accept that there are things they may no longer be able to do in public as they did before. They must also understand that spending time with certain people they associated with previously may no longer be appropriate. The public will always observe how judges conduct themselves,” Chief Justice said.
The Chief Justice also highlighted the challenges facing the judiciary and outlined efforts being made to address them.
Addressing concerns over the shortage of judges in courts, he noted that this had been a longstanding issue raised by the courts. He acknowledged the work undertaken by the Judicial Service Commission to address the shortage.
He added that several factors contribute to delays in cases, noting that some of these issues are beyond the courts' ability to resolve.