Separate pay-scale for judiciary proposed

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Sheikh Shahariar Zaman
Bangladesh Judicial Service Pay Commission has proposed to formulate a separate pay-scale for members of the judiciary to ensure the independence of the legal system.
The government is expected to give a decision on the proposed pay-scale at the cabinet meeting to be held today (Wednesday).
"It is impossible for members of the judiciary to maintain social status, moral values, and quality of judicial works without fixing honourable remuneration for the judges," said the commission report on pay-scale.
"Giving verdicts are a complex matter and meritorious people can only give proper judgement," the report said adding, "The remuneration package should be such that talented people are attracted to judiciary."
"It is essential to give attractive pay package at all the stages of the judiciary so that the judges do not feel the financial problem thus not hampering their working spirit."
The commission proposed maximum Tk 40,000 scale for district judges and equivalent officials and minimum Tk 16,500 scale for assistant judges and equivalent officials.
One of directives of the famous Mazdar Hossain case is to form a separate commission to review the pay, allowances and other privileges of the judicial service.
"The pay etc of the judicial service shall follow the recommendations of the commission," the verdict of the case had said.
The additional expenses for meeting the new pay-scale will be Tk 220 million as the number of people employed in the judiciary is small, the report said.
The commission expects that the government will implement the new pay-scale at one go from 2009-10 fiscal without any revision, the report added.
At present the judiciary servicemen received remuneration under the national pay-scale.
Judiciary is an essential organ of the state and it is the responsibility of the state to ensure its independence, the report said adding, "It is imperative that financial security of the judges is a part of the independence."
The government has obligation to fulfill the recommendations of the commission as it is the directive of the Court to follow the suggestions put forward by the commission, the report pointed out.
The Commission said that experience is vital in judiciary and the government should increase the retirement age of the members of the judiciary to 62 from 57.
It is mentionable that the retirement age of the justices at the Supreme Court is 67.
A law ministry official said work of the judiciary is different from the works of officials of other cadres and it makes them special.
"It's not a 9 to 5 job rather 24-hour job," he said adding, "A judge comes to office at 9, finishes his administrative work within 30 to 45 minutes and starts hearing until the tea break."
"From tea break to lunch and from lunch to 5:00, the hearings of different cases continue," he said.
After returning home, he works until midnight to write verdicts and it is a very strenuous job, he added.
The president on June 18, 2007 formed the Bangladesh Judicial Service Pay Commission which submitted its report in June this year.