The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Chief Justice M Ruhul Amin yesterday asked the judges to discharge their responsibilities maintaining cent percent integrity and impartiality to restore the confidence of the people in the judiciary.

Addressing the 57th Annual Conference of Bangladesh Judicial Service Association (BJSA) at Osmani Memorial Hall in the city as chief guest, he reminded that the people expect that judges would perform their judicial responsibilities maintaining 100 per cent honesty, sincerity and impartiality.

The Chief Justice asked the government for taking necessary measures to ensure logical payment and other facilities for the subordinate court judges and provide them adequate logistic support to pave the way for discharging their responsibilities in line with the expectation of the people.

"If we could ensure better facilities with adequate logistic supports, the judges would be able to discharge their responsibilities accordingly protecting the rights and overall welfare of the people," he said.

Chief Justice Ruhul Amin also cautioned that if the measurable conditions of the judiciary and minimum frustration of the judges were not removed it would be tough to make them discharge their responsibility as per the expectation of the people.

Presided over by Dhaka District and Session Judge and president of the organisation AKM Ishtiaque Hossain, the function was also addressed, among others, by Adviser for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Barrister Mainul Hosein, Acting Law Secretary Kazi Habibul Awal, Supreme Court Registrar Iktedar Ahmed and BJSA Secretary General Ataur Rahman.

Terming the judiciary an imperative organ of the state, the Chief Justice said it could contribute much to the overall welfare of the state and protecting the people's rights as it can be stronger and allow it to work more independently.

He also urged the government to ensure security of the judicial magistrates working at the district level.

Emphasising the need for enhancing the retirement age of subordinate court judges, he said the judiciary would be benefited if the government takes an effective step in enhancing the retirement age of the judges.

"There is no alternative to experience," he said adding that the retirement age of the judges could be raised from present 57 years, so that there is no shortage of experienced judges in future.

The Chief Justice also asked the government for ensure security of the judicial magistrates who have to carry out their responsibilities even after the evening.

Referring to the skepticism of critics about the separation of the judiciary, Chief Justice Amin said the criticism against judicial magistrates' efficiency and capability proved wrong.

The judicial magistrates have already proved their efficiency and sincerity in performing their duties by resolving significant number of disputes during the first month of the separation of judiciary, he mentioned.

He said the people who are already getting justice at the grassroots level would further enjoy the benefits of the separation in next few months when more magistrates would be appointed.

Law Secretary Kazi Habibul Awal said separation of judiciary from the executive has been made for the sake of good governance and interest of the people and now it is the responsibilities of the judges to cherish it.

He assured that the government would take necessary measures to fulfil the logical requirement of the judges in the subordinate courts.

Supreme Court Registrar Iketdar Ahmed in his speech dismissed the allegation that he had given postings to the newly recruited judicial magistrates by abusing power.