SC to get new judges: Anisul

Law Minister Anisul Huq. Photo: TV grab

Chief Justice SK Sinha will take necessary steps immediately for appointment of some new judges to the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court for quick disposal of pending cases, said Law Minister Anisul Huq today.
The president will appoint the judges on advice from the prime minister after the chief justice sends proposals in this regard, he said.
The minister was speaking to reporters after making a courtesy call on Justice Sinha at the latter’s SC office in the afternoon.
Anisul said he discussed with the chief justice different issues regarding the judiciary particularly how the backlog of cases pending with courts across the country can be reduced.
All necessary steps will be taken for reducing the backlog of cases through their quick and fair disposals, Anisul said.
On January 18, the chief justice at his felicitation at the SC has emphasised on doubling the number of judges in courts across the country.
Around 365,059 cases are awaiting disposal at the SC and 2,495,944 in the district courts across the country, said Anisul, who is also a lawyer by profession.
Three posts for judges are vacant at the Appellate Division, while the number of High Court judges has dropped to 87 from the highest 100 after the retirement of some judges and promotion of others to the Appellate Division.
The law minister said a draft on the proposed law determining the procedures for removal of a SC judge will be sent to the SC for its scrutiny.
After getting the SC opinions on the draft, it will be finalised and then a bill will be placed in parliament for passage, he added.
Lawmakers on September 17 last year passed the 16th constitutional amendment bill, empowering the parliament to impeach SC judges on grounds of misbehaviour and incapacity.
On September 23, Anisul Huq told reporters that the government is likely to enact a law determining the procedure for removal of judges in three months.