Chief Justice Appointment: A Call for Reform
- Update Time : 01:11:59 pm, Friday, 3 January 2025
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The Judicial Reform Commission has proposed changes to the process of appointing the Chief Justice and other judges to ensure transparency, efficiency, and independence from government influence. The commission has prioritized 11 areas based on feedback from nearly 15,000 individuals, including legal professionals, judges, and the general public. These include enacting laws for appointing judges to higher courts, establishing a Supreme Court Judges Appointment Commission, creating a separate secretariat under the Supreme Court, modernizing free legal aid programs, and digitizing court operations.
Other recommendations focus on removing the President’s discretionary powers in appointing the Chief Justice, implementing a merit-based judge appointment process, and establishing a permanent attorney service and independent investigative agency. Additional suggestions aim to improve court infrastructure, reduce case backlogs, and enhance training for judges and lawyers.
The commission was formed in October with an 8-member team led by Justice Shah Abu Naim Mominur Rahman and tasked to submit its report within 90 days. However, the deadline has been extended by two weeks to finalize the report, expected by January 15 or 16. The proposals may require constitutional and legal amendments, which would need parliamentary approval. Interim measures could include ordinances by the current government, subject to ratification by the next elected administration.
