Top DJA officials suspended indefinitely

Two senior officials at the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) have been suspended indefinitely.

Zakariyya Hussain and Ahmed Ali, who serve as director generals at the DJA, were suspended citing “an ongoing investigation.”

Both Zakariyya and Ahmed Ali are close to former chief judicial administrator Amjad Mustafa, who resigned in April.

The details of the investigation against the duo, who were appointed to the top posts during Amjad’s tenure, are unclear at this point.

Zakariyya heads the DJA’s general administration and front office. He previously served as a member of the Civil Service Commission.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Ali, the former permanent secretary at the Education Ministry, serves as the director general of the Judicial Academy.

The policies for suspension of senior officials of the DJA are based on the Judicature Act and the Judicial Services Commission Act.

While the regulation on judicial employees allows the suspension of judicial officials based on risk of impeding investigations, such decisions can only be taken in investigations involving allegations of derelict of duty, misconduct, corruption or criminal offense.