The newly formed Judicial Reform Commission, led by Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman, on Tuesday emphasised the need for a balanced and cooperative relationship among the three pillars of the state鈥攖he legislature, the executive, and the judiciary.
Addressing the media on Tuesday at the Judicial Administration Training Institute, Justice Mominur Rahman said that absolute separation of the judiciary from the other branches of the state was not practically feasible.
Justice Mominur clarified that the judiciary, while independent in its rulings, relied on executive agencies to enforce the court orders.
鈥楾he idea of a completely independent judiciary is impractical, as the courts require administrative support from government entities to function effectively,鈥� he said.
The commission鈥檚 second meeting, attended by seven members, aimed at discussing key areas of judicial reform.
Justice Mominur also underscored the essential role of the judiciary in governance, noting, 鈥楾he administration cannot operate effectively without the judiciary, and the judiciary is crucial for the state to function.鈥�
A key focus of the Commission, as outlined by Justice Mominur, is to formulate guidelines for the appointment of judges to the High Court and the Appellate Division, ensuring that appointments are free from political influence or nepotism.
He, however, acknowledged that implementing such reforms would be challenging.
鈥榃e are discussing ways to reform the judiciary so that the people can be benefitted from it. However, we are yet to receive the terms of reference from the government,鈥� Justice Mominur explained.
He added that delivering comprehensive solutions within the government鈥檚 90-day timeframe might be difficult, in view of the scale of the task.
The commission is also prioritising measures to reduce case backlogs and ensure timely and affordable justice. 鈥榃ith over 43 lakh cases pending, the judiciary is struggling under its workload.
鈥極ur recommendations will focus on speeding up the delivery of justice and reducing litigation costs,鈥� the chairman said.
Justice Mominur emphasised the importance of consulting key stakeholders in the reform process, including judicial officers, lawyers, bar associations, and the media.
Other members of the commission present at the meeting were Emdadul Haque, Farid Ahmed Shibli, Syedul Aminul Islam, Masdar Hossain, Tanim Hossain Shaon, and Quazi Mahfujul Hoque Supan.
