15 High Court jutices go to office in rented car

There is an insufficient number of government vehicles for the use of judges. Fifteen High Court judges are commuting to and from their offices in rented cars because the Supreme Court administration lacks the financial capacity to purchase new vehicles. Approximately one lakh Taka is being spent monthly for the rent of each car. Furthermore, each vehicle is supplied with 225 liters of fuel per month, which is also expensive.

Lawyers state that this is undermining the dignity and security of the judiciary. They emphasize that increasing the financial independence of the judiciary, along with institutional reforms, is urgently needed in this situation.

Currently, the Supreme Court has seven judges in the Appellate Division and 113 judges in the High Court Division. Following the political change of power on August 5 last year, 23 additional judges were appointed to the High Court in the first phase on October 9, and another 25 in the second phase on August 25.

Out of the latest 25 additional judges appointed to the High Court Division, 10 were allocated government cars based on seniority. Rented vehicles were arranged for the remaining 15 judges. This is the first time that rented cars have been arranged for judges at the Supreme Court. Earlier, the Mazdar Hossain case verdict had instructed the state to ensure vehicle and housing provisions for judges.
Regarding the matter, Supreme Court Registrar General Habibur Rahman Siddique said, “A written request was sent to the government to supply vehicles from the Transport Pool for the new judges. In response, they informed us that suitable vehicles for judges were not available.” He added, “I recently spoke with the Finance Secretary to arrange funds for purchasing new cars for the new judges. We hope to get new cars soon.”

Shamshur Rahman Babul, the contractor supplying the rent-a-car service, informed Samakal that he has been supplying 15 Premio cars since August based on a verbal agreement. He also stated that he has been supplying cars and other goods to the Supreme Court since 2018.
A concerned official indicated that government drivers understand the needs and protocol of Supreme Court judges and are trained for this. In contrast, drivers of rented cars often show reluctance to work long hours for the judges.

Masdar Hossain, the retired District Judge who was the plaintiff in the case for the separation of the judiciary, said, “Financial independence was one of the core principles in the Appellate Division’s 1999 directive to ensure the separation of the judiciary. The use of rented cars for Supreme Court judges only proves that the judiciary’s independence is merely on paper.”

The Supreme Court currently has 173 government vehicles. Several of these are inoperative. A related official mentioned that some cars were vandalized during the July uprising. The damaged vehicles are lying in the Supreme Court complex and could not be repaired due to the financial crisis.