Free judiciary starts new journey today

FE Team | Published: November 01, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

The judiciary begins its new journey through its separation from the executive control today (Thursday), taking the burden of over 0.4 million criminal cases pending in the country's magistrate courts, reports UNB.
Briefing newsmen at his office, Supreme Court Registrar Iktedar Ahmed said some 218 magistrates -- 202 from the judiciary and 16 from the administrative cadre service-will start exercising their judicial functions.
"Everything is set. Courtrooms, ejlas, manpower and other logistic supports are in place," he said.
A total of 655 posts of judicial magistrates was created to meet the demands of the courts at the district level. The remaining 453 magistrates will be recruited within the next three months by the Judicial Service Commission.
bdnews24.com adds: The full bench of the Supreme Court Wednesday set November 15 for next ruling in the Mazdar Hossain case that set off moves to free judiciary from executive.
On November 15, the court will also issue rulings in the two contempt of the court cases filed against 13 government officials, including four secretaries.
The full bench once again ordered the government to complete the tasks for the separation, including construction of courtrooms for judicial magistrates and putting in place other required infrastructure.
A seven-member full bench headed by chief justice Md Ruhul Amin gave the rulings at 9:36am.
The apex court is also set to issue ruling on the same day regarding the law ministry letter that asked the district judges not to ask for separate courtrooms, vehicles, manpower and other facilities for the judicial magistrates.
Attorney general Fida M Kamal Wednesday submitted affidavits to the court detailing the government steps taken for constructing courtrooms for judicial magistrates and for other necessary infrastructure facilities.
In the affidavits, the cabinet, establishment, housing and public works secretaries pledged total cooperation in the matter. They said the divisional and deputy commissioners had been asked to provide courtrooms and all assistance to the judicial magistrates.