Editorial
Uphold sanctity of the court
Lawyers breaching it?
The pandemonium created by lawyers when a High Court (HC) bench was hearing a petition filed against Islami Oikya Jote leader Mufti Fazlul Huq Amini has shocked the nation.
The manner in which the lawyers came to blows is a clear demonstration of unruly behaviour coming from none other than some members of the Bar. And by their noisy disturbances, they have not only undermined the judiciary, they have also brought themselves down.
It is worthwhile to mention that the judges at the HC bench were commenting on the ramifications of a derogatory remark made against the Constitution by Mufti Amini. In the same breath, a judge also recalled a similar comment made by the leader of the opposition, which according to the court was equally blameworthy.
While not exonerating in any way the lawyers for their unruly behaviour, we feel obliged to point out as Khaleda Zia was not the subject of the hearing bringing her reference, which led to the pandemonium, was totally uncalled for.
But the lawyers with political allegiance to the opposition party instantly protested the judge's comment on opposition leader. And that led to reaction from lawyers belonging to the ruling party. In the chaos that ensued, someone did commit the grave offence of hurling an object at the judges.
In the past, too, we have similar instances of lawyers desecrating the court premises and thereby earning a bad name for themselves. Far from learning from the past, they seem to be resorting more and more towards publicly displaying their intolerance towards one another on partisan ground.
What were the leaders of the bar doing, some of whom were present at the scene, to prevail upon their junior members to show due respect to the court?
As pointed out by the judges, any lawyer, if aggrieved by the judgement, could appeal to the Appellate Division for redress. On the contrary, the lawyers driven by their partisan attitude caused to create a wider chasm between the bar and the bench. Let us not forget that if the relation between the bar and the bench is not healthy, it will impact negatively on the justice system.
The respect and sanctity of the judiciary must be maintained at all costs. At the same time, public confidence in the lawyers' community has to be enhanced. If those in the legal profession do not realise it, who will?
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