SC unhappy with law ministry over delay in sending judicial official abroad

The Supreme Court yesterday summoned the law secretary before it and expressed dissatisfaction with his ministry for not complying with an order of the court to take necessary steps to send a lower court judge abroad for training.

Law Secretary ASSM Zahirul Haque Dulal appeared before the court as per its order.

The apex court told the law secretary and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam that the SC, not the law ministry, will decide whether to send any judicial official abroad as those officials are under the court following separation of the judiciary from the executive.

At a stage, the attorney general told the court that the law ministry has already decided to make arrangements to send the judicial official abroad.

SC sources said the South Korean government on May 12 urged Chief Justice SK Sinha to send two judicial officials to South Korea for a 16-day long training.

The Supreme Court yesterday summoned the law secretary before it and expressed dissatisfaction with his ministry for not complying with an order of the court to take necessary steps to send a lower court judge abroad for training.

Law Secretary ASSM Zahirul Haque Dulal appeared before the court as per its order.

The apex court told the law secretary and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam that the SC, not the law ministry, will decide whether to send any judicial official abroad as those officials are under the court following separation of the judiciary from the executive.

At a stage, the attorney general told the court that the law ministry has already decided to make arrangements to send the judicial official abroad.

SC sources said the South Korean government on May 12 urged Chief Justice SK Sinha to send two judicial officials to South Korea for a 16-day long training.

The chief justice nominated two officials -- one additional district judge and another judicial magistrate.

The SC authorities made arrangements for the additional district judge and asked the law ministry to make necessary arrangements for the judicial magistrate.

The law ministry was delaying to take steps to send the judicial magistrate to South Korea, according to sources.