Independence of judiciary in Bangladesh: an overview
International Journal of Law and Management
ISSN: 1754-243X
Article publication date: 3 February 2012
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to analyze the status of independence of the judiciary in Bangladesh. It is recognized worldwide that an independent judiciary is the sin qua non of democracy and good governance. However, without separation of the judiciary from other organs of the state absolute independence of judiciary is not possible. An attempt has been made in this paper to sketch the brief historical background of judicial system in Bangladesh through analyzing the meaning and basic principles of judicial independence and to what extent these principles exists in Bangladesh. How did the judiciary finally separate from the executive? After separation of the judiciary, what is the status of executive interference over judiciary in Bangladesh has also been evaluated in this paper.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is qualitative in nature and based on secondary sources of materials like books, journal articles, government rules, newspaper reports, etc. Relevant literature has also been collected through Internet browsing.
Findings
In this study, it has been found that from time immemorial the judicial system of Bangladesh was not completely independent from the interference of the executive branch of the government. It has also been found that from the beginning of the British colonial rule, the question of separation of the judiciary from the executive had been a continuing debate. Presently, even after separation of the judiciary, the interference of the executive over the judiciary is still continuing.
Practical implications
This paper opens a new window for the policy makers and concerned authorities to take necessary steps for overcoming the existing limitations of the status of judicial dependence in Bangladesh.
Originality/value
The paper will be of interest to legal practitioners, policy makers, members of civil society, and those in the field of judicial system in Bangladesh and some other British colonial common law countries.
Keywords
Citation
Hossain Mollah, A. (2012), "Independence of judiciary in Bangladesh: an overview", International Journal of Law and Management, Vol. 54 No. 1, pp. 61-77. https://doi.org/10.1108/17542431211189605
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited