Govt draws flak

Supreme Court. File photo

The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed its annoyance over the government’s submission of a time petition for complying with its earlier order regarding raising salaries of lower court judges.

The judiciary will collapse gradually if things continue in such a manner, the court said while hearing the Masdar Hossain case, popularly known as judiciary separation case.

The apex court on March 14 had directed the government to increase the pay scale of the judicial officials (lower court judges) by 30 percent instead of 20 percent proposed by the government.

The six-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossaion Tuesday adjourned hearing of the case till April 21.

The court said the government did not comply with its order for raising salaries of the lower court judges although it had ordered for a hike.

Earlier this morning, the attorney general prayed for more time saying that the government is planning to formulate a law regarding the salaries and other benefits of the lower court judges.

In response to the petition, the court said that sending the matter to the parliament means that it would go to the cold storage.

The apex court said it will hear on April 21 whether this matter can be sent to the parliament as it earlier directed to the government for doing so.