CJ's remark on last working day: Judiciary should keep out of political interference
Staff Reporter :
Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique has said that it does not auspicious for the judiciary when political splitting crosses the streets and rushes towards the courts.
He further said judiciary feels comfortable if political ideology is implemented politically and the courts are kept at a safe distance.
Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the remarks at a farewell reception given to him by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Attorney General office in the courtroom no 1 of the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division on his last working day, August 31.
The Chief Justice, who will retire on September 25, this year, sit in the courtroom for hearing and disposing of cases for his last working day on Thursday, as the court will go into a one and half months annual vacation since September 3.
The Chief Justice said, “We have to keep in mind that the differences of lawyers and their reactions damage the image of the judiciary. …The authors of the Constitution established an independent and impartial judiciary.
The responsibility of every organ and every citizen of the state is to enforce that independence.”
He said, “Judiciary is the heart of a Republic.
There is no fairer test of excellence than the efficiency of the judiciary of a state.
The people of a nation may lose confidence in the executive department or in the legislature department.
However, if the nation loses faith in the judiciary, it will have to wait for the worst day.”
Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique mentioned that the Judiciary is the protector of the supremacy of the Constitution, as well as protecting the fundamental rights of the people.
He said independence of judiciary is essential for the development of true participatory democracy, preservation of rule of law, rights of weaker sections of society and establishment of social justice.
The Chief Justice said, “A strong and independent judiciary is essential for a strong democratic system.
The foundation of democracy is the rule of law. Judiciary should be fully independent, and the judges should work keeping themselves freed from all political influences and being fully loyal to the Constitution, law and their own judicial conscience.”
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Supreme Court Bar Association President Md Momtazuddin Fakir accorded farewell to the Chief Justice.
Judges of both the divisions of the Supreme Court also attended the farewell program held in the Appellate Division courtroom.
Meanwhile, the anti-government lawyers including the pro-BNP lawyers boycotted the traditional felicitation program alleging that this Chief Justice made the judiciary as a subservient institution of the government.
He patronized the Awami League backed lawyers who illegally occupied the SCBA, also alleged the boycotting lawyers.
Justice Hasan Foez Siddique was appointed the 23rd Chief Justice of Bangladesh on December 31 in 2021 after the retirement of his predecessor and also 22nd Chief Justice of Bangladesh Syed Mahmud Hossain.
