Judicial accountability concern

The only other occasion one could remember the supreme judicial council having been activated relates to the tenure of Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed as the CJ. The SJC had then sat of its own and that no formal charges were made against the judge under scrutiny nor any reference made to the then president.

Thus, it's a rare event in the judicial history of the country that the SJC has proceeded to probe the allegations of corruption against Judge Syed Shahidur Rahman levelled by Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud on October 1. This is being done upon a direction by President Iajuddin Ahmed on October 30. So, it has all the elements of a full-fledged inquisition getting underway and that too in an expeditious manner.

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The initiation of this potentially cleansing method by way of establishing accountability and transparency of the highest judiciary in a test-case situation is a highly welcome move. As well as enhancing the public image of the judiciary it will provide a fillip to the cause of transparency in the administration of justice.

The council has the right to hold the hearing in camera, something which it is exercising now. The public expectation is that a balance would be struck between judicial sensitivities and the citizen's right to information.