No timeframe for appointing chief justice

The constitution does not stipulate any timeframe for the president to appoint a new chief justice following the retirement or resignation of a chief justice, Law Minister Anisul Huq said yesterday.

"The honourable president has time and he will do it.

"I cannot say when, where and how the chief justice will be appointed,” the minister said while responding to journalists' queries at an anti-drug campaign programme of Prottoy Medical Clinic Ltd in the capital's Baridhara.

The law minister said Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court's Appellate Division, would carry out the responsibilities of the chief justice until a new chief justice is appointed.

Amid criticism from the ruling quarters over different issues, including the 16th amendment verdict, Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha resigned on November 10.

Anisul said judges would be appointed in the Appellate Division to address the shortage of judges after the president picks a new chief justice.

Appointments of both the chief justice and Appellate Division judges are the prerogative of the president according to the constitution.

The law minister added that he would meet the Appellate Division judges this afternoon to talk about the disciplinary rules for lower court judges, but the issue of appointing a new chief justice would not be discussed there.

Anisul stressed the need for raising awareness against the harmful effect of drugs alongside implementing laws to stop drug smuggling into the country.

He said drugs and militancy are now the two biggest threats in the world.

Terming drugs a "virus" that spreads rapidly, Bangladesh ODI cricket team captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza emphasised the importance of creating awareness against this social menace.

He also called upon addicts to return to a drug-free life.

Nazmul Haque, chairman of Prottoy Medical Clinic Ltd, also spoke on the occasion.