Govt retracts forced retirement orders on two judges
Monday, 3 August 2009
The government Sunday decided to retract its punitive orders sending on forced retirement two judges who had led an angry demonstration inside the restricted premises of Bangladesh Secretariat, reports UNB.
Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed told reporters at his Secretariat office Sunday afternoon that the President, who passed the early-retirement orders Thursday in exercise of his powers under the Constitution, "may revoke the orders as per Constitution."
The axed judges are M Abdul Gafur, a judge of the district and sessions judge's court in Dhaka, and M Shahjahan, a judge of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Gazipur. They are also President and Secretary General respectively of Bangladesh Judicial Service Association (BJSA).
Asked whether the government's decision on taking punitive action against the two judges was wrong, Barrister Shafique admitted that there was some procedural error.
"I don't see any cause of embarrassment for the government on the issue," said the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister.
To another question, he said there should be an inquiry into the matter. "Then it will be clear."
On July 30, the BJSA president and the secretary general were given their marching orders under Section 9(2) of the Public Servants (Retirement) Act 1974.
The BJSA represents 1,400 serving judicial officers across the country.
"They were sent on retirement in a bid to maintain discipline in public administration," said a handout issued by the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry on the day (July 30).
The government sent them on compulsory retirement following demonstrations staged by BJSA members inside the Secretariat on July 27 against the move for bifurcation of the Law Ministry into two divisions, officials said.
Their reinstatement process started after the Judicial Service Association earlier in the day regretted to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the July 27 incidents at Bangladesh Secretariat.
The BJSA members offered their apology when they, led by President Abdul Gafur and Secretary General Shahjahan called on the Prime Minister at her official residence Jamuna.
During the meeting, the BJSA leaders apprised the Prime Minister of activities of their organisation.
Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed told reporters at his Secretariat office Sunday afternoon that the President, who passed the early-retirement orders Thursday in exercise of his powers under the Constitution, "may revoke the orders as per Constitution."
The axed judges are M Abdul Gafur, a judge of the district and sessions judge's court in Dhaka, and M Shahjahan, a judge of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Gazipur. They are also President and Secretary General respectively of Bangladesh Judicial Service Association (BJSA).
Asked whether the government's decision on taking punitive action against the two judges was wrong, Barrister Shafique admitted that there was some procedural error.
"I don't see any cause of embarrassment for the government on the issue," said the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister.
To another question, he said there should be an inquiry into the matter. "Then it will be clear."
On July 30, the BJSA president and the secretary general were given their marching orders under Section 9(2) of the Public Servants (Retirement) Act 1974.
The BJSA represents 1,400 serving judicial officers across the country.
"They were sent on retirement in a bid to maintain discipline in public administration," said a handout issued by the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry on the day (July 30).
The government sent them on compulsory retirement following demonstrations staged by BJSA members inside the Secretariat on July 27 against the move for bifurcation of the Law Ministry into two divisions, officials said.
Their reinstatement process started after the Judicial Service Association earlier in the day regretted to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the July 27 incidents at Bangladesh Secretariat.
The BJSA members offered their apology when they, led by President Abdul Gafur and Secretary General Shahjahan called on the Prime Minister at her official residence Jamuna.
During the meeting, the BJSA leaders apprised the Prime Minister of activities of their organisation.