Separation of judiciary from executive essential for rule of law: CJ
The judiciary must be separated from the executive branch of the government to ensure the rule of law, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed said today (30 November).
"The Supreme Judicial Council has been reinstated to remove judges, a power previously held by the parliament. Now, a formal proposal has been made to the government to separate the judiciary," he said at a workshop in Dhaka for newly-enrolled members of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).
Advising young lawyers to work with integrity, he said institutional autonomy is an integral part of the independence of the judiciary.
"Young lawyers must strive to uphold the dignity of the judiciary. Recent incidents in court premises demand that lawyers act with more responsibility. Overall, the judiciary will move forward in coordination with the bar and the bench," the chief justice said.
Before the workshop began, attendees observed a minute of silence to honour the memory of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif, who was killed in Chattogram last week. Special prayers were also held for those killed and injured during the student-led mass uprising.