Notification of “Amendment to the Instruction on Preserving Human Dignity and Values in the Judiciary” issued by the Head of the Judiciary

According to the Judiciary Media Center, these amendments were introduced following the strong emphasis of Chief Justice Mohseni Eje’i on the need for enhanced respect and improved treatment of citizens and visitors to judicial institutions. The new provisions aim to broaden the Judiciary’s approach to ensuring dignity and respectful treatment of citizens.

Under the new amendments, the definitions of citizens’ rights, as well as the rights of defendants and litigants within judicial bodies and courts, have been expanded, and supervisory mechanisms for enforcing these rights have been strengthened.

Regarding public accountability and transparency in the handling of high-profile cases — especially those related to public rights — the Judiciary will enhance its approach in line with the new amendments.

According to the notification issued by Mohseni Eje’i, family counseling centers are now also included among the institutions obligated to comply with the amended instruction.

Additionally, a new clause has been added to Article 5 of the instruction, relating to “public accountability and informing the public about the progress of major cases, especially those concerning public rights.” Based on this clause, arrangements will be made to broadcast the sessions of the General Assembly of the Supreme Court publicly and online during deliberations on rulings of judicial unification, and to allow online attendance while observing legal restrictions.

Under the amendments, and in accordance with Article 6 of the instruction — which pertains to observing the principles of legality of crime and punishment and the presumption of innocence — the Judiciary’s Center for Statistics and Information Technology is required to provide the infrastructure for intelligent monitoring and oversight to protect the rights of defendants, litigants, and those involved in cases, such as guarantors and bail providers.

Furthermore, the Judiciary’s Human Resources Department is required to consider a judge’s commitment to protecting the rights of defendants, litigants, and related parties as a key performance indicator within the comprehensive evaluation system for judges.

According to the amendments and under Article 8 — which concerns adherence to the prohibition of torture to obtain confessions — prosecutors are obligated to train judicial enforcement officers to ensure that interrogations and investigations are conducted based on scientific and professional methods, avoiding intrusion into personal or family matters or questioning irrelevant to the case. Prosecutors are also required to supervise the proper implementation of these procedures by officers.

Under the amended Article 12, and in the interest of preserving the dignity of the public, parties to a case will now be able to inquire about and obtain updates on the status of their judicial files without needing to appear in person at judicial offices.