Roadmap of CJ will ensure transparent justice delivery: Senior lawyers hope  

Senior lawyers and officials of the Supreme Court today (18 January) expressed their firm conviction that country's judiciary would be able to deliver a fair, transparent and quick services to the people through implementing the roadmap recently announced by the chief justice.

"We hope implementation of the Judicial Reform Roadmap will play an important role in ensuring transparency and justice in the country's judicial process," Senior Supreme Court Advocate Dr Kazi Akhter Hamid told BSS.

"People of the country will get their aspired judicial system if the roadmap announced by the Chief Justice is implemented," he said  

Senior advocate Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol opined that the SC has already taken a number of steps in line with the roadmap of the CJ. He hoped that country's higher courts would be able to deliver justice as an independent and sovereign body.  

Immediately after taking oath on 11 August 2024 as the 25th chief justice of Bangladesh Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has taken various initiatives to improve the quality of the country's judiciary.

The Chief Justice announced the roadmap on 21 September 2024 in presence of the law adviser of the interim government, judges of both divisions of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General of Bangladesh and judges of the district courts.

The roadmap has attached special importance to constitute an independent council for appointment of the High Court judges. 

On October 28 last, the Bangladesh Supreme Court conducted a detailed study on the laws, rules and regulations, decisions, customs and related issues regarding appointment of the apex court judges in different countries and sent a proposal in this regard to the law ministry. 

In continuation of this, the draft of the 'Supreme Court Judges Appointment Ordinance, 2025' was approved in principle and finally in the meeting of the Advisory Council on Thursday.

The Supreme Court has already launched two helpline numbers to provide quick and hassle-free judicial services to the justice seekers.  In addition to the previous helpline number (01316154216), the new (01795373680) helpline number will allow the litigants to express their complaints and suggestions. 

A High Court division bench has started conducting completely paper-free judicial activities from 5 January last, creating a new chapter in the country's judicial activities. Under the initiatives, applicants were allowed to submit all papers online. 

The chief justice has a plan to conduct paper-free activities in other benches of the Supreme Court in phases by 2025. 

After introducing the paper-free service in the higher courts, the chief justice hoped that same process will be followed in all district courts in future.

Under the roadmap of the CJ, significant progress has already been made through establishing a separate secretariat for the judiciary, creating an independent council for appointment of High Court judges and formulating transfer and posting policies for judges of the lower courts.

Necessary initiatives are being taken to bring the justice system of the country's apex court and district courts completely under e-judiciary as the Chief Justice is determined for bring whole justice delivery system under e-governance. 

Concerned officials hoped that the Judicial Appointment Council Ordinance will be finalized soon, subject to routine vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department.