Don’t want to see judiciary politicised in any manner
Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan yesterday said the judiciary and courts should not be politicised in any manner.
"In light of the constitution, let the judicial administration be transparent, independent, free from corruption, and congruent with the idea of social justice," he said.
"A corruption-free judiciary is the pride of a country and nation. While discharging my duties, I will try my best to ensure that the judiciary is corruption-free and follow the well-thought-out path of my fellow learned judges and learned lawyers. I want to make a long-term judicial plan to modernise our judicial system and to make it accessible to the general public."
Justice Obaidul Hassan, who was sworn in as the 24th chief justice on September 26, said these in his address to a felicitation programme organised for him by the attorney general's office and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) at the Chief Justice's Courtroom at the Supreme Court.
"The goal of justice can only be reached through collective and talented efforts made by the judges and lawyers, and thus the dignity of the judiciary will remain untainted."
The chief justice then urged journalists to be adequately careful while reporting on courts and judges because judges cannot make statements for the media.
"Newspapers are the mirror of a society. Their role in establishing the rule of law is irrefutable. The general public gets an idea of the courts through substantial reporting in print and electronic media by journalists working from the court premises."
To those making statements about the judiciary, he said making adverse and whimsical comments about a court and justice without adequate understanding of the matter is a sign that one is not civilised.
"In the words of former chief justice Habibur Rahman, I also want to say that judges are not above criticism. There is a way of decent criticism in a civilised world."
The right to criticise a verdict is a part of freedom of expression, which has been guaranteed by the constitution with reasonable restrictions by law.
"He [Justice Habibur Rahman] had also said criticism needs to be [made] after one is well-informed… in order to uphold the image of free journalism. But the court's arm is long enough to punish those who abuse their freedom; whoever they are -- be it members of the media, lawyers, or [those belonging to] any other entity."
Many Appellate Division and High Court Division judges were present at the event.
A group of pro-BNP lawyers boycotted the felicitation of Justice Obaidul Hassan because he received greetings from Awami League and Bangladesh Chhatra League men after being appointed as the chief justice. The lawyers also held a meeting on the SCBA premises regarding the matter yesterday.
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