The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has protested and clarified its position on a news report, published in The Independent on August 23, headlined “Graft Allegations: No action taken yet against 52 judges”.
The Independent report reads,” The apex court had given its recommendations against the judges at different times since 2005, but the law ministry is yet to take any action against them.” The newspaper report also quoted law ministry sources as saying that three of the 52 judges have gone on voluntary retirement to avoid departmental action, six have not returned from abroad, two filed writ petitions against the cases, one was found to be “mentally disordered” and the ministry has no information about one while departmental proceedings are underway against the remaining 39 judges. The ministry’s Public Relations Officer Dr Md Rezaul Karim yesterday sent an email to clarify its position on the report which is as follows:
In the 1st paragraph the report says, “Even though the Supreme Court (SC) has recommended departmental action against 52 lower court judges for their alleged involvement in corruption and irregularities, the law ministry is yet to take any concrete steps against them’’ which is not based on fact. Therefore, the law ministry strongly protests it and clarifies it in the following way: “The law ministry has taken necessary action against them and it is underway which is mentioned in the report. ’’
In the 3rd paragraph the report says, “… even the law ministry did not inform the Supreme Court whether it has taken any step in accordance with the apex court’s recommendations,” said a source in the Supreme Court on condition of anonymity. The law ministry also says: It is not based on fact. So, strongly protests it and clarifies it in the following way: ‘‘In this regard, the law ministry has time to time informed to the Bangladesh Supreme Court. More over, the Honourable Minister for Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs Mr. Anisul Huq and Honourable secretary of Law and Justice Division Mr ASM Zahirul Haque recently informed it to the Honourable Chief Justice of Bangladesh.’’