The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

A meeting of the Judicial Commission, headed by Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin, yesterday recommended to the President the names of eligible candidates drawn from the High Court Division for appointment as Appellate Division Judges.

After the meeting, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and member of the Judicial Commission Barrister Shafique Ahmed told UNB that four names, two for each vacant post in the Appellate Division, were recommended maintaining the seniority list of the High Court judges.

They are Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman, Justice M Abdul Quddus, Justice M Abdul Aziz and Justice Bijan Kumar Das. Two Judge's posts at the Appellate Division have been lying vacant since July this year, court sources said.

No name was available before the table for scrutinizing additional judges of the High Court Division, the Bar leader added. Law Adviser AF Hassan Ariff and Attorney General Salah Uddin Ahmed were, among others, present at the meeting of the nine-member Judicial Commission.

Both divisions of the apex court have been suffering from shortage of judges.

On March 26, President Prof Iajuddin Ahmed promulgated the Supreme Judicial Commission Ordinance 2008 as part of interim government measures to remove the scope for politicization in appointment of judges to both the High Court and the Appellate Divisions of the Supreme Court.

The interim government has taken the initiative in the face of a strong public demand, as all the successive governments in the past had allegedly appointed judges to the apex court 'on political considerations' sans academic qualifications, professional skills, honesty and reputation.

The ordinance prescribes the formation of a nine-member commission, headed by the chief justice, which will recommend names for appointment as additional judges to the High Court.

The commission will also recommend names of eligible candidates drawn from the HC Division for appointment as judges of the Appellate Division.