Judiciary has shown enough patience, Chief Justice Sinha says

The Supreme Court has expressed dissatisfaction once again as the government is yet to respond to its call for talks over service rules for lower court judges.

During a hearing on Sunday, Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha told Attorney General Mahbubey Alam that the judiciary was "being patient enough".

On the criticism of the top court for scrapping 16th constitutional amendment, Justice Sinha referred to Pakistan’s apex court that disqualified the prime minister from office last month.

“But nothing happened there (no criticism). We need to be more mature.”

After months of delays, Law Minister Annisul Huq submitted the final draft of the service rules to the Appellate Division for a review.

But on Jul 30, the chief justice rejected it saying none of the recommendations made by the court had been included in it.

Justice Sinha and other judges of the six-member Appellate Division bench then offered to sit with the state representatives, including the law minister and the attorney general to finalise the draft.

Following which, Minister Huq told the media that he would sit with the top court judges on Aug 3, but later deferred it citing health reasons. The meeting is yet to take place.

During a hearing on Aug 6, the court gave the government a two-week deadline to publish the gazette notification, which expired on Sunday, when the state pleaded for more time.

At the very beginning of Sunday's hearing, Justice Sinha brought up the issue of the talks.

"What did we agree on? We were supposed to decide who will be at the meeting? Who will be there (from the govt)?" he asked.

 "Law Minister," Attorney General Alam replied.

Expressing his dissatisfaction, the chief justice then said, “You did not even discuss it with us?"

He said the government's statements in the media differ from what its representative says in court.

"I am not pointing the finger at you in particular, but all (in government). Tell me, when will it happen?"

Describing the whole matter as an 'unstable situation', the attorney general replied that he was in an awkward situation.

"It's you, who are creating a firestorm about it. Did we make any remark?" asked the chief justice, to which Alam replied, "No."

The court then gave the government until Oct 8 to publish the gazette notification for the judges' service rules.

Petitioner's counsel M Amir-Ul Islam then pleaded the court to hear his motion. Chief Justice Sinha said, "The judiciary is being patient. We are showing enough patience. I have read a column today, which also calls for patience.”