Why spend time on trivial matters?

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday raised questions over the courts' spending time on “trivial matters” instead of disposing of thousands of pending cases.

“Why do courts spend time on trivial issues? Several lakh important cases have been pending with the courts. Besides, a number of criminals, including members of Jama'atul Mujahidin Bangladesh, have been arrested. Hearings on the cases of death row convicts are also pending. Why do courts spend time on such trivial issues instead of disposing of those cases?” she said.

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The premier made the statement after Jatiya Party lawmaker Kazi Firoz Rashid drew the attention of Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid to a writ petition filed with the High Court on the PEC and JSC exams.

Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond submitted the writ petition in July last year, saying that the government was empowered under the Intermediate and Secondary Education Ordinance, 1961, only to hold secondary and higher secondary certificate exams.

The government was not allowed to hold JSC exams, he said, adding that schoolteachers were engaged in coaching business due to the introduction of the exams.

After hearing the petition, the HC in September last year issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why the government's decision to hold JSC exams should not be declared illegal.

Firoz yesterday blasted the education minister for continuing Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Primary Education Completion (PEC) exams, saying such a system was “illegal and unconstitutional”.

“As the matter is now sub judice, the government can't take such exams until the writ petition is disposing of,” he told Jatiya Sangsad. 

Participating in the unscheduled discussion, Hasina said, “I am responsible for the PEC and JSC exams. I've introduced the system as teachers used to pick only a few students of classes V and VIII for scholarship exams, which was discriminatory for other students of those classes.”

The PM said the teachers used to focus their attention on those few selected students, but some meritorious students might be left out.

“That's why I introduced the system so that all students can take such exams.”

About the SSC exams, she said many students feared sitting for the exams.

“But the PEC and JSC exams help them overcome the fear of exams,” Hasina said, adding that the certificates also help them gaining confidence.

The Leader of the House said she was very surprised to hear such words from the JP lawmaker against the PEC and JSC exams.

Referring to the writ petition, she said, “I don't know what would be the court's verdict. It will be unfortunate if it goes against the PEC and JSC exams.”

The premier said a section of people “love to file writ petitions on whatever issues they have” and the courts spend time on hearing those petitions.