By Maryam Riaz
Judicial well-being is a prerequisite for judicial independence and the proper administration of justice. Because a stressed judiciary is more susceptible to extraneous influence and the erosion of public trust.
It is a matter that is not personal to any judicial officer. A person who acts as the liaison between citizens and the administration of justice has a right to be protected, not for personal gain, but for the protection of those who approach them daily, in hundreds and thousands, merely to seek relief and to ensure that someone is there to protect their rights.
Among all, the district judiciary is the primary place of interaction between a layperson and the judicial system, with a greater responsibility to shoulder. As per the report of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, there are 3,016 judges serving in the district judiciary across Pakistan, hearing hundreds of cases daily.
In Pakistan, there are judges serving even in the remotest areas of the country, under dismal conditions, with low internet connectivity and electricity disruptions. Hats off to the National Judicial Policy Making Commission that a considerable amount from the Access to Justice Development Fund has been disbursed for improving these conditions for the Bar and the Bench alike. On average, a High Court judge in Pakistan hears around 150 to 200 cases per day, and the ratio is even higher in district courts. Every case is multifaceted, with different facts, different laws applicable, different reliefs sought, and distinct legal reasoning, critical evaluation, and responsiveness required.
Now, a plausible question arises: how can the optimal physical and mental well-being of a person deciding hundreds of cases daily be maintained and optimized? What role can the institution of the judiciary itself play, and how can organizational collaborations be rendered fruitful for this purpose? That is where judicial well-being becomes more important.
Judicial well-being does not cover only the working conditions of judicial officers; it also seeks to enable them to thrive across occupational, physical, social, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual aspects of life. A person working tirelessly for hours does not just need a better environment to work in, but also a supportive and inclusive judicial culture, a culture where stress and mental health challenges are acknowledged in a way that does not reflect weakness. They need training, health workshops, and an ethical environment that prioritizes well-being.
The need for such measures is also evident from the reforms currently being undertaken within Pakistan’s judicial system. This was reflected in the National Conference on Judicial Well-being 2026, which I recently attended. It was encouraging to see the reforms being undertaken and showcased by the Chief Justices of the High Courts within their respective jurisdictions. These included the solarization of courts, e-libraries, improved internet connectivity, operationalization of e-courts, better facilities and infrastructure, women facilitation centres, and access to clean drinking water. These are undoubtedly important steps towards improving the working conditions of judicial officers and strengthening the overall administration of justice. However, Pakistan still has a long way to go. Some key initiatives that may contribute towards creating a healthier judicial environment and ultimately, strengthening the administration of justice are as follows:
Firstly, there should be monthly or fortnightly activities for judicial officers as a stress-management mechanism. It may sound cliché, but a healthy body resides in a healthy mind. Such activities can help nourish their mental well-being, improve their ability to manage pressure, and ultimately help them strive through the existing judicial backlog.
Secondly, the judicial system is convoluted, with procedural delays, frequent adjournments, and several other institutional challenges. There should be regular training programmes for judicial officers and other relevant personnel to help them keep up their morale and remain motivated towards the efficient administration of justice. Such programmes should not merely focus on legal or procedural developments but should also equip them with practical strategies for managing workload, prioritising cases, and dealing with prolonged professional pressure.
Thirdly, the judiciary could introduce a structured peer-support and judicial wellness network within the judicial hierarchy. Rather than treating stress or professional exhaustion as an individual weakness, judicial officers could have access to confidential peer-support mechanisms through which they can discuss workload pressures, difficult professional experiences, or challenges arising from their judicial responsibilities. The purpose would not be to interfere with judicial independence or decision-making, but to ensure that judges do not have to navigate the psychological burden of their profession in isolation. A judiciary that creates space for its own members to be heard may ultimately be better placed to hear and respond to the grievances of those who come before it.
Judicial well-being has now become a phenomenon meriting global attention. Different jurisdictions, including Austria and the United States of America, have developed tools that help courts systematically measure occupational distress, create well-being portals, and introduce judicial wellness initiatives that connect judges nationwide with peer-support networks and burnout-prevention strategies.
Pakistan can incorporate such steps and can also take guidance from international instruments and principles, such as the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being 2024 and the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct. Such measures would eventually contribute to strengthening the administration of justice.