Saturday 18 June 2011

Enhance SC judges' salary: HC to govt

The High Court on June Wednesday (June 16) directed the government to enhance salary of the judges of both divisions of the Supreme Court as per recommendations of a parliamentary sub-committee. 

A bench of the HC comprising Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Gobinda Chandra Tagore passed the directive making its earlier rule on the matter absolute, said a lawyer. 

In 2009, a committee of the Supreme Court headed then Chief Justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim on May 5 of that year made a recommendation to enhance salary of the judges and later a parliamentary sub-committee approved it, he said. 

In the recommendation, basic salary of the CJ was proposed Tk one lakh with other allowances Tk 1,52,000 while basic salary of the Appellate Division judges was proposed Tk 90,000 with other allowances Tk 1,23,000 and basic salary of HC Division judges Tk 80,000 with other allowances Tk 1,08,000, said the lawyer. 

During the proposal, CJ would get salary of Tk 30,500 while Appellate Division judges Tk 29,000 and HC Division judges Tk 27,000, he said. However, the Ministry of Finance on February 14, 2010 ignoring the recommendation of the parliamentary sub-committee set salary of the CJ at Tk 56,000, Appellate Division judges Tk 53,100 and HC Division judges Tk 47,000, said the lawyer. 

Then, two lawyers---Advocate Manzill Murshid and Advocate Asaduzzaman-of the SC filed a Writ petition with the HC challenging the finance ministry's decision and seeking the court's directive. 

The HC issued a rule on March 20 this year. After hearing on the matter, the court made the rule absolute, said Advocate Manzill Murshid. He said solvency of the judges was needed to dispose of the cases smoothly, ensuring justice and rule of law in the country. 
 New Nation

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