Govt gets two more weeks

The government has got two more weeks to issue a gazette on disciplinary rules for lower court judges.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court adjourned for two weeks the hearing on the Masdar Hossain case, popularly known as the judiciary separation case with which the issue of the disciplinary rules is related.

During the case hearing, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam prayed for its adjournment for four weeks, saying that Law Minister Anisul Huq is sick and his consent is needed for finalising the rules.

Chief Justice SK Sinha, who was presiding over a six-member bench of the Appellate Division, told the AG whether he would meet the minister at his residence, as the latter is not admitted to a hospital.

The chief justice also said a meeting should be held among the apex court judges, the law minister and the attorney general for a discussion on the rules.

Meanwhile, Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam, a lawyer for the case, submitted a petition before the apex court yesterday saying that the SC itself can issue the disciplinary rules with approval from the president and there is no need for any ministry's consent.

The SC fixed August 20 for hearing the case and the petition.

The SC on July 30 refused to accept in full the draft rules determining the discipline of lower court judges. The court expressed its dissatisfaction with the ministry as it made the rules by making a “U-turn” on the directives given in the verdict in the separation of judiciary case.