SC unhappy at delay

The Supreme Court yesterday expressed dissatisfaction with the government for “delaying” compliance with its order to raise the salary of lower court judges.
The Appellate Division of the SC told Attorney General Mahbubey Alam that this behaviour on the government's part was unacceptable.
The division made the observation while hearing the Masdar Hossain case, popularly known as the 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.
It had also directed that the government provide all the district judges with a selection grade after five years of service and submit a report to it on compliance of the order by yesterday.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam yesterday morning told the court that the government would submit a time petition before it.
In response to the attorney general, the six-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, made the remark.
This court is needed for all people, whether they are in power or not, it added.
The court asked the attorney general to file the time petition by yesterday and fixed today for passing an order on the case.
The attorney general's office, however, will file the petition this morning, said the office sources.