DHAKA, Sept 26, 2024 (BSS) - Eminent jurists have welcomed Chief Justice (CJ) Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed's proposal of establishing a separate secretariat under the Supreme Court for ensuring the independence of judiciary.

Establishing a separate secretariat is the first step for ensuring independence of judiciary and independent budget and separate rules for appointment, posting and promotion of the judges must be prioritized to reform the judiciary, the chief justice said recently.

Welcoming the CJ's proposal, leading lawyers of the country today said that freedom of the judiciary would not be ensured until the judiciary is not fully separated from the executives and the purview of the Law Ministry.

Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, hoped that the judiciary will achieve the expected freedom under the pragmatic leadership of incumbent the chief justice. 

Separate secretariat and independent budget will help get rid of the grip of the executives, he said, adding that no autocratic government would be able to survive in the country if the judiciary becomes independent truly.

Another senior top lawyer of the country Barrister Salah Uddin Dolon appreciated the plan and initiative of the chief justice to make the judiciary independent. 
Separate secretariat and independent budget are the preconditions for independence of the judiciary, he said.

"The first and last place of shelter for the people is the judiciary, so the judges should be independent and sovereign as per their conscience and the constitution," Barrister Dolon added.

Another senior lawyer Advocate Subrata Chowdhury termed the initiative and roadmap of the chief justice as a milestone for the country.

He said, "Bangladesh judiciary can follow the Indian Judiciary Collegiums System in line with our constitution. The lower judiciary should be brought under the absolute jurisdiction of the Supreme Court."

After the fall of autocratic prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed took oath as the 25th Chief Justice of the country on August 11.

The interim government recently constituted six commissions to reform electoral system, police department, judiciary, anti-corruption commission, public administration and the constitution. 

Justice Shah Abu Naim Mominur Rahman, a retired judge of the appellate division of the Supreme Court, has been made the chief of the judicial reforms commission.