Law Adviser Asif Nazrul on Monday said that the law ministry has finalized a draft after scrutinizing three drafts concerning the much-talked about Supreme Court Judges Appointment law.
"The Law Ministry is set to hold a meeting on Saturday with experts to discuss three drafts of the Judges Appointment Law, which were received by the ministry earlier over the matter," the Law Adviser came up with the development while addressing at a discussion meeting under titled Dialogue for Democratic Reconstitution on Judiciary. The discussion meeting organised by the Centre for Governance Studies at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital on Monday.
The Law Adviser said that these three drafts include proposals from the Chief Justice of Bangladesh, the Judicial Reform Commission, and the caretaker government of 2007-2008.
"We have reviewed the drafts and found them largely similar, with minor differences on key issues," he noted.
He also informed that based on these drafts, the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs has prepared a draft law through broader consultations.
The adviser emphasised that the ministry intends to enact the law as soon as possible, incorporating insights from experts, politicians, academics, and other stakeholders.
"If we can appoint 30 to 40 Supreme Court judges, it will significantly enhance judicial services for the next 30 to 40 years," Asif Nazrul stated, adding that the law is expected to be enacted within a month.
Nazrul also highlighted the necessity of establishing a separate Secretariat under the Supreme Court, as proposed by the Chief Justice. 'We will consult stakeholders and aim to establish the secretariat within three months,' he said.
Additionally, he announced plans to establish a permanent prosecution service to depoliticise the attorney service. 'This will be completed within six months,' he assured.
The government also plans to amend procedural laws to address flaws in the existing legal framework within the next year, the adviser added.
Nazrul underscored the importance of public consensus on judicial reforms, stating, 'Greater consensus will make it harder for future governments to roll back these reforms.'
Reflecting on past judicial practices, Nazrul criticised the politicisation of the judiciary, stating, 'The judiciary was previously used as a tool for oppression and human rights violations under the Awami League government.'
He also stressed the need for fair elections and smooth power transitions to uphold democracy.
"We urge various reform commissions to ensure that their recommendations reflect the need for credible elections and democratic governance," he concluded.
Earlier on November 28, the Supreme Court sent a proposal to the law ministry to constitute a Judicial Appointment Council that will select candidates for appointing new High Court judges.
Supreme Court's Registry General Office sent the proposal to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliament, Supreme Court sources said.
Earlier, the Supreme Court took the opinions of 15 HC judges in this regard.
Besides, following the appointment of the new Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, the Supreme Court also sent a proposal to set up a separate secretariat at the Supreme Court.
