Chewing Gum In Courtroom Lowers Dignity Of Court: Judge

Sessions Judge Mohammad Adnan has taken the position that chewing gum in court lowers the dignity of the court and lowers police morale. This was stated in a report submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The matter came to a head when on the 31st of January 2020, the Judge dismissed a pre-arrest bail petition from Yasir Arafat, who was chewing gum while being present in the courtroom itself. This wa under section 498 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Subsequently, a member inspection team (MIH) from the IHC asked for a report from Judge Adnan.

In his report, the judge stated that it was not within the norms and practices of the court for an accused to be permitted to chew gum within the courtroom.