'Seniority not mandatory for appointing CJ'

Senior Correspondent: Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq said it is not mandatory to appoint Chief Justice (CJ) on the basis of seniority.

About the appointment of the Chief Justice, the Minister said, "I have strong objection about the remark that seniority has been violated."

"It has been clearly stated in the Article 95 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh that Honourable President will appoint the Chief Justice. It is not written anywhere that such appointment will have to be made on the basis of seniority. Honourable President has taken this decision on his own", said the law minister.

Law Minister said this while speaking at a seminar in a hotel of the capital's Gulshan on Sunday.

About the resignation of a judge, he said, "As a justice, he can resign. It is his personal decision. I have nothing to say there."

On the issue of appointment of new judges, the law minister said, "You will see it soon . . . judges will be appointed to the Appellate and High Court Divisions."

Terming BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's remarks about judiciary as untrue, he said, "We all are respectful to judiciary and court and the same should be echoed by all".

"I'm sorry, she is saying this ... it is completely untrue. I also said earlier . . . I am saying now that trail has been held in the court and the learned judge of the lower court will hand down that judgment taking evidences into account," Law Minister said.


risingbd/Dhaka/February 4, 2018/Naymuddin/A K Azad