Chief justice pledges ‘meaningful reforms’ to strengthen judiciary

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed on the present time (18 December) renewed his commitment to implement significant reforms within the judiciary.

“I reaffirm my staunch resolve to implement significant reforms and produce a judiciary that commands the boldness of the final public,” he said whereas addressing a discussion on the event of the Supreme Court docket Day 2024.

The chief justice said believe within the judiciary is now no longer a privilege; it’s an obligation that rests upon the very foundation of the democratic options.

He said on assuming the spot of job of the Twenty fifth chief justice of Bangladesh, he took an oath now no longer correct to the Structure but additionally to the americans.

“I pledged to uphold the guideline of legislation, safeguard the admire of this gargantuan institution, and restore public self perception in our justice provide mechanisms. The weight of this accountability is now no longer lost upon me. It requires a relentless commitment to reform, transparency, and institutional excellence,” he said.

The chief justice said he declared a reform roadmap on 21 September, laying out a blueprint for institutional reform aimed toward restoring public believe, guaranteeing effectivity, and upholding judicial independence.

Noting that one of many cornerstones of this roadmap is the need for institutional autonomy, he said, “A judiciary that lacks administrative and financial independence can’t remain unprejudiced, nor can it ship justice with the swiftness that society requires.”

Refaat Ahmed said he has already forwarded a whole space of immediate-time duration proposals to the authorities, emphasizing the need for instantaneous reforms in financial independence and administrative autonomy.

“A separate Judicial Secretariat is now no longer a mere aspiration; it’s an exigent necessity. The judiciary’s administrative matters could perhaps aloof now no longer remain below the support a watch on of the govt.,” he said.

The Chief Justice proposed the establishment of an Self sustaining Judicial Appointment Council, a physique tasked with selecting judges essentially based fully on merit, integrity, and legitimate excellence.

He said the restoration of the Supreme Judicial Council after the historic disposal of 16th modification case is of paramount significance. This institution could perhaps aloof be empowered to oversee the removal of judges of the apex court docket, guaranteeing a great, unprejudiced, and non-political mechanism for judicial accountability, he added.

“By reinstating the Supreme Judicial Council, we reaffirm our commitment to institutional autonomy and safeguard the integrity of the judiciary from undue impact even from the legislative department of the exclaim,” he said.

Stating that the members of the district judiciary make the bedrock of the correct arrangement, the Chief Justice said their role in turning in justice on the grassroots stage can’t be overstated; frequent and arbitrary transfers disrupt their ability to abet successfully.

“I am dedicated to implementing structured and merit-essentially based switch pointers that will create particular transparency, equity, and steadiness all the contrivance thru the judiciary. Judicial officers deserve to work with dignity, free from the grief of undue interference,” he said.

“The reforms I keep in touch of on the present time are now no longer mere ideals; they’re pragmatic measures rooted within the needs of our time,” he said

About the commemoration of the establishment of the Supreme Court docket of Bangladesh, the Chief Justice said in this level in time is now no longer merely a date on the calendar, fairly it’s an logo of the nation’s commitment to justice, equity, and the constitutional options for which infinite sacrifices were made.

He said the Supreme Court docket stands as the sentinel of justice, equity, and constitutional governance. “It is our solemn accountability to retain its dignity and rate, and to create obvious it remains the beacon of justice for generations to come,” said the Chief Justice.

Justice Ashfaqul Islam, Chair of the Supreme Court docket Day Celebration Judges Committee, presided over the match, whereas judges of both the Appellate Division and the Excessive Court docket Division, leaders of the Supreme Court docket Bar Association and lawyers, among others, were level to.