AL govt implemented first step towards judiciary separation: Khasru

---

The past Awami League (AL) government of Sheikh Hasina implemented the first step towards separating the judiciary through giving financial authority to the Supreme Court (SC) by amending the Rules of Business.
AL leader and former minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Matin Khasru made the claim while speaking at a press conference at his chamber in the city Wednesday -- a day ahead of the separation of the judiciary, reports UNB.
"Before that the SC was to depend on the government even to buy a pencil or a piece of paper", Khasru said.
The AL leader dismissed the sweeping allegations that past political governments did nothing in implementing the SC's 12-point directive in the landmark Masdar Hossain Case on the judiciary separation.
"We had also drafted four rules regulating the judicial service at subordinate courts and amended draft of the concerned CrPC for separating the magistracy from the executive control", he said.
He, however, said since the tenure of the AL government ended in 2001, they could not complete the task though it was one of the major election pledges of the party.
The former law minister commended the caretaker government for finishing off the task of separating the judiciary, which takes effect today (Thursday).
"Let's start the new journey… Man behind the machine is important. Wisdom, integrity and capability of judicial magistrates will ensure the benefit of the separation for justice seekers", he said.
Khasru said it must be ensured that justice seekers do not face victimisation or courts do not turn out to be places of injustice because getting justice is a fundamental right of a citizen, which was denied for a long time.
He said if the judiciary could function independently in true sense of the term, then the administration would not dare to commit any offence by abusing its power.
The former minister suggested multidimensional reforms in higher judiciary as it was politicised in the past while appointing High Court judges.
AL Law Secretary Shahara Khatun was, among others, present at the briefing.