Justice Arif proposes six reforms for judicial integrity

The high court judge has outlined the proposals for students in a Facebook post

In light of recent political changes in the country, High Court Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif has outlined six key proposals for students in a Facebook post, which he believes are crucial for building a "dream nation."

In his post on Wednesday, Justice Arif said: “The Supreme Court of Bangladesh, as the last refuge for those seeking justice, has long been marred by various controversies due to political interference. With no current party government in place, it is my moral duty as a senior judge of the apex court to share these insights with the students, who are the future architects of a new Bangladesh.”

He said failure to implement the following reforms would perpetuate controversy and pose significant obstacles to achieving the nation's aspirations:

• Implement non-partisan legislation for judicial appointments;
• Establish checks and balances on the Chief Justice’s discretionary power in forming High Court Division Benches;
• Limit the Chief Justice’s exclusive authority in constituting the General Administration Committee and Judges Committee of the High Court Division;
• Constitutionally prohibit the appointment of High Court Division judges to the Appellate Division if it violates seniority rules;
• Similarly, constitutionally prevent the appointment of the Chief Justice in a manner that disregards the seniority of Appellate Division judges;
• Develop a transparent and accountable constitutional framework involving judges and parliament members to combat corruption and biased conduct among judges.

Justice Arif's proposals reflect his concern for judicial integrity and independence in the evolving political landscape of Bangladesh.