Law Minister Anisul Huq asks chief justice not to complain publicly

Law Minister Anisul Huq has requested the chief justice to refrain from complaining in public.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 26 April 2017, 11:43 AM
Updated : 26 April 2017, 01:20 PM

"With due respect, I ask you (chief justice) to communicate your concerns directly to the executive rather than making them in public," he said in reply to a reporter's question on Wednesday.

The minister arrived at the seminar hall of his ministry on the National Legal Aid Day.

Referring to a recent remark of Chief Justice SK Sinha that administration was obstructing the judiciary from acting freely, the reporter asked: "What was the conflict between judiciary and the executive?"

In reply, the minister said he had "utmost respect" for the chief justice but it would be easier for him to answer if the chief justice had "elaborated more on his concerns."

"We might be able to solve his problems then," said the minister.

The minister detailed different initiatives by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for magistrates including salary hikes.

Salary of High Court justices have been raised to Tk95,000 from Tk49,000. For the judges of Appellate Division, the salary has been raised to Tk105,000 from Tk53,000.

The salary of chief justice has been raised to Tk110,000 from Tk56,000, said Minister Anisul.

File Photo

"The justice has been given due honour. These are not done for pleasing the judiciary," he added.

The minister refuted chief justice's statement that "government was acting like a step mother to the judiciary."

"The prime minister is doing all these to boost the freedom of judiciary. Still if they find the attitude 'step motherly', then I cannot argue. It is just unfortunate."

The Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina never interfered with the work of the judiciary and will never do so in future, claimed the minister.

"I do not see a chasm between judiciary and the executive," said Anisul referring to recent comments of chief justice.