Staff Reporter :
Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha on Saturday said the judicial system of Bangladesh carries a backlog of nearly three million cases due to various reasons, including the shortage of judges and competent lawyers.
Most of the poor people are unable to approach the justice system due to different factors, including poverty and illiteracy, the Chief Justice said while addressing a seminar as the chief guest.
The Monthly Legal Aid, a law-based news magazine, organized the seminar on ‘Access to Justice: Judicial Remedy’ at CIRDAP auditorium in the city.
Justice Sinha said the judicial system of Bangladesh is facing a huge backlog of nearly three million cases. Of them, around 60 per cent cases in both civil and criminal courts are originated from land disputes, he said.
“The long delay in the court processes is mainly caused by outdated administrative processes, shortage of judges and competent lawyers, lack of trained staff and infrastructure,” he said.
“Government formulates new laws without taking the consent of Supreme Court. The Judiciary was separated from the Executives in 2007, but there are some complications that contribute to case backlog,” the Chief Justice said.
Regarding the shortage of judges, he said the appointments of the new judges are delayed due to bureaucratic tangles.
“The administrative officials do not timely come to the offices. Many lawyers are not seen in the court after lunch hours. Judges cannot properly function due to the lack of courtrooms,” he said.
However, Justice Sinha said despite all odds they would have to find out solution. “A multi-pronged initiative is required to tackle the problems,” he noted.
With regards to the judicial remedy for the poor people, he said they are deprived of the minimum basic needs of life.
“Owing to illiteracy and poverty, they are ignorant of basic human rights and amenities. The poor litigants are unable to reach the doorsteps of the justice system as it is expensive and time consuming. So, many poor people are silently bearing the agonies of injustice,” he said, adding the Legal Aid authority may take some pragmatic steps to provide legal aid to the vulnerable groups within its limitation.
The Chief Justice also said that the government of Bangladesh enacted Legal Aid Services Act 2000 (LASA) with a view to ensuring the poor people’s access to justice. In terms of LASA, National Legal Aid Services Organisation (NLASO) was established to implement the government legal aid programme across the country.
“In 2014, the government provided legal aid to 10,793 men, 14,467 women and 23 children for filing and defending cases,” he said.
Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed presented the keynote paper in the seminar.
Among others, Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Naima Haider also spoke at the seminar, presided over by the editor of The Monthly Legal Aid Khawja Golam Murshed.
