Law Minister Anisul Huq has dismissed claim that seniority has been superseded in the latest appointment of Chief Justice, which is conspicuous by two exits before and after.
"I have great objection about claims that seniority has been breached," he told reporters after inaugurating an European Union (EU)-sponsored rights workshop in Dhaka Sunday.
The minister's remark came against the backdrop of claims that seniority has been violated in appointing Syed Mahmud Hossain as the new Chief Justice.
"It is stated in the Article 95 of the constitution that the President shall appoint the Chief Justice. But it is mentioned nowhere that the appointment will be made based on seniority," the law minister argued.
He added: "The President has made the decision at his own discretion and we are respectful to his decision."
The office of Chief Justice fell vacant following Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha's resignation last November.
Sinha tendered his resignation from abroad six weeks after he had gone on leave in October amid some developments surrounding a Supreme Court verdict that scrapped a constitutional amendment on the judiciary.
Thereafter, the President instructed Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, the senior-most judge of the Appellate Division, to stand in to perform CJ functions.
However, hours after the appointment of the new Chief Justice Friday, Justice Miah resigned, apparently for not being chosen to be the top judge.
Regarding Justice Miah's resignation, the law minister said, "It is his (Justice Miah's) own personal decision. I have nothing to say about it."
Earlier, he inaugurated the workshop on 'Human Rights, Sustainability Reporting and Responsible Business Conduct'. Bangladesh Employers Federation has organised the two-day meet in collaboration with the EU.
Speaking on the occasion, the law minister said Bangladesh has been moving at a 'reasonable pace' towards a safer and compliant manufacturing industry since the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013.
However, he also noted that the country has to increase its efficiency and productivity to sustain in the competitive international arena once it graduates from the LDC status.
Member of the National Human Rights Commission Enamul Hoque Chowdhury, International Organisation of Employers Secretary-General Linda Kromjong, President of Bangladesh Employers Federation Kamran T Rahman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Md. Ashraf Shameem and First Secretary of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh Erika Hasznos also spoke on the occasion.
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