Yet another time extension for issuing gazette on rules

The Supreme Court yesterday extended time until December 3 for issuing a gazette notification on the disciplinary rules for lower court judges.

The apex court adjourned till that day (December 3) the hearing on the Masdar Hossain case known as judiciary separation case with which issuance of the gazette notification was linked.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, who is discharging the responsibilities of the chief justice, passed the order following a time petition moved by Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.

After the proceeding, the AG told reporters that Law Minister Anisul Huq may sit with the judges of the Appellate Division on Thursday to resolve the issue.

The way Chief Justice SK Sinha wanted to see the rules will curb the power of the president, said the AG. For this reason, the government is trying to resolve the issue by holding discussion between the SC and the law ministry, he added.

Earlier on October 8, the SC adjourned the hearing on the Masdar Hossain case till yesterday.

On that day, the government for the 25th time in two years sought time from the Supreme Court to issue the gazette notification. The judiciary was officially separated from the executive in November 2007, but the code of conducts for lower court judges have yet to be finalised.