Only President has authority to appoint chief justice: Anisul

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Thusday said as per the Constitution, only the President has the authority to appoint the chief justice.

"Country's constitution has given the authority of appointing the chief justice to the President. President generally appoints the chief justice from the judges of the Appellate Division. The issue of law and seniority does not matter here," he said.

The law minister said this while replying questions of newsmen at 'Meet the OCAB' programme at the National Press Club here this morning. Organized by Overseas Correspondents Association Bangladesh (OCAB), a platform of Dhaka-based journalists working for foreign media, the programme was conducted by its member secretary and Dhaka Reporters Unity president Nazrul Islam Mithu.

OCAB member and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Managing Editor Anisur Rahman and senior journalist Farid Hossain were present at the programme, among others.

"We believe in transparent governance. We should formulate an act for appointing the chief justice. But it would not be right to formulate this important act hastily. As far as I know, new chief justice has not been appointed yet. But this appointment may take place by December 31," the law minister said while replying a question on formulating the act to appoint the chief justice.BSS.