Staff Reporter :
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Tuesday demanded the formulation of judge appointment policy in the Supreme Court.
The Bar leaders made this demand in a press conference at the SCBA auditorium.
BCBA President Advocate Zainul Abedin read out a written statement in the press conference while its Secretary Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokan, Senior Vice-President Ozi Ullah, Vice-President Umme Kulsum Rekha, all executive members and other lawyers were present.
In the written statement, the Supreme Court Bar President said, “The lawyers society is demanding the formulation of judge appointment policy for a long time as per the Article 95(2) of the Constitution. There is no alternative of formulation of judge appointment policy to ensure transparency and neutrality in the process of appointing judges in the Supreme Court.”
“To ensure the independence of the Judiciary and to establish the rule of law meritorious, honest and man of personality should be appointed as a judge in the Supreme Court. But the government is not formulating the policey as per the order of the Supreme Court,” read the statement.
It further read, “The High Court in a verdict delivered on April 13, 2017 have mentioned seven qualifications for a judge candidate to secure the appointing process more transparent and effective. According to the observations of the verdict, a candidate, who will be recommended for the post of a judge, must have genuine loyalty to the fundamental principles of the state policy and must be meritorious, efficient, honest. Willing candidates should have the opportunity to apply through online process to ensure a tranparent and nutral process.” The Bar President said, “The Law Minister recently announced to recruit judges in both the divisions of the Supreme Court. But he did not say anything about formulation of judge recruiting policy. In this circumstances, SCBA is demanding a policy before recruiting jugdes in the Suprme Court.”
The Bar Secretary said, “No third division is allowed to a be judge candidate in the lower court. But in the Supreme Court, this disqualification is not seen. In the past, man of BNP or Awami League indentities had been recruited as a SC judge though he or she had the third devision. As a result, many judges cannot cite enough reference in the judgement. This is hampering the justice.”
