Dhaka, March 1 (bdnews24.com)- The most senior judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Justice Md Ruhul Amin, Thursday took oath as the 15th chief justice.
After a swearing in Justice Ruhul Amin urged all to restore people's confidence in the judiciary.
President Iajuddin Ahmed administered the oath to the new chief justice at the Bangabhaban at 10.40 am.
Later at 12.15 pm the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) accorded a reception to the chief justice. At the reception the new chief justice said, "The soul of the judiciary is the confidence of the people seeking justice. But in the past question had often been raised over the sincerity and neutrality of this institution."
He urged all including the lawyers to restore people's confidence in the judiciary through discipline, punctuality and mutual respect.
Justice Amin was appointed to the Appellate Division on January 11, 2001. Earlier he got appointment as a judge in the High Court on February 18, 1992. Justice Amin will retire as chief justice on June 1, 2008.
The SCBA did not accord a farewell to the outgoing chief justice Syed JR Mudassir Husain. Only a few lawyers participated in his farewell on February 28.
But at the reception of the new chief justice on Thursday, the courtroom-1 of the Appellate Division was overflowing with lawyers.
Addressing the reception the chief justice said, "It's not true that the highest judiciary had negotiated its sincerity and neutrality. However, the dignity and honour of the institution suffered to some extent."
"To run this institution properly, discipline, sincerity and mutual respects are necessary. This is the right time to show these. In absence of these, meaningful running of this institution will be difficult. Let us all work to restore discipline and mutual trust at all levels," he said.
He sought cooperation of all in discharging his responsibilities as the chief justice.
At the function SCBA president Barrister M Amir-ul Islam said, "Today's attendance shows how much the lawyers care for professionalism, rule of law and independence of the judiciary. The country is now going through a critical time. The Supreme Court is facing image crisis. The Bench and the Bar have to work unitedly to remove this crisis."
He said, "In forming bench all should be consulted; the yardstick of seniority and efficiency should be followed by forming committees with the senior judges, if necessary."
Attorney general Fida M Kamal lauding the track record of the chief justice as a judge said, "You are well known for honesty, justice and dutifulness."
Quoting former British prime minister Winston Churchill, the attorney general said, "Accountability and just attitude of the judiciary cannot be ignored in delivering justice."
bdnews24.com/at/eh/ah/1926 hours
