Appoint CJ, SC judges from lawyers

A legal notice was served yesterday asking the government to take necessary steps for appointing the chief justice (CJ) and more judges to the Appellate and High Court divisions of the Supreme Court from lawyers in 72 hours.

Eunus Ali Akond, an SC lawyer, sent the notice to the respondents saying that he will file a writ petition with the HC seeking necessary directives if they fail to appoint the CJ and judges from neutral, independent, honest, sincere and competent lawyers within the deadline.

The president appoints more than 80 percent judges of the HC division from the lawyers practicing at the apex court, Eunus said in his notice.

But, 100 percent Appellate Division judges are appointed from the HC judges, which is discriminatory and violation of principles of natural justice. Even in the constitution, there is no provision of promotion of HC judges, he said in the notice.

In India, Pakistan and the USA, SC judges are appointed from the lawyers, he also mentioned.

The law secretary, cabinet secretary, president's secretary, prime minister's office secretary, registrar general of SC and chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council have been made respondents.