Judges disciplinary rules: Govt given another 2 weeks time for gazette

The government today got two weeks time more for issuing a gazette notification on the disciplinary rule for lower court judges.

The Supreme Court today adjourned for two weeks the hearing on the rule.

Read More: Lower Court Judges: SC deplores draft rules

During hearing on the Masdar Hossain case, known as judiciary separation case, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam prayed for adjournment of the hearing of the case for four weeks saying that Law Minister Anisul Huq is sick and his consent is needed for finalising the rule.

The Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha who was presiding over a six-member bench of the Appellate Division told the attorney general whether he would meet the law minister at his residence, as he is not admitted to hospital.

The chief justice said that a meeting should be held among the apex court judges, the law minister and the attorney general for discussing the rule.

The Supreme Court on July 30 refused to accept in full the draft rules determining the discipline of lower court judges, and said the rules were a U-turn on the top court's directives.

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.

The chief justice demanded to know from the attorney general the necessity of the High Court if all the authority is given to the law ministry.

The SC verdict in Masdar Hossain case said the gazette on the rules would be effective from the date fixed by the apex court. But now the draft says the rules will come into force since the day of the gazette notification, Justice Sinha earlier said.