The Chief Justice Shahab uddin Ahmed has expressed dissatisfaction over the delay In separating the judiciary from the administration.

"Both the ruling party and the opposition are talking of Independence of the judiciary but no concrete step has been taken in'this regard. If they were sincere the Issue could have been resolved long -ago." Justice Ahmed said at a discussion meeting organised in the city yesterday In observance of the second anniversary of the death of Justice Amin Ahmed.

. Justice Amin Ahmed was one of the first six Judges who tame to Dhaka from the Calcutta High Court after the partition of the sub continent tn 1947.

He retired in 1959 as chief Justice of the then High Court of East Pakistan. The Amin Ahmed Memorial Council organised the discussion at the South Plaza of the Supreme Court Bar Association building.

Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed regretted that the Tate of a bill introduced by an opposition member in Pafliament two and' a half years ago seeking the separation of the Judiciary from the executive still remained undecided.

T hope the fate of the bill will be decided In the House

through discussion." he said, adding if the Issue were put to vote then it would be clear who were in favour of the independence of the Judiciary and who were against.

The Chief Justice, who headed a care-taker government after the fall of the Ershad regime, said that according to Article 116 of the Constitution the President should appoint the lower Judiciary officials In consultation with the Supreme Court. But the rules were not being followed, he pointed out. . As the government is appointing the lower Judiciary officials the standard is not up to the mark. The situation could have improved if the appointments were made in consultation with the Supreme Court.

Article 116. he said, permits the President to appoint the Judiciary officials but Article 116 (a) says that the Judiciary will work Independently. As the two clauses are contradictory. Article 116 should be amended, he added.

With the justice Amin Ahmed Memorial Council president Justice Maksumul Hakim in the chair, the meeting was addressed by. among others, . former President Justice Ahsa-nuddln Chowdhury, former Chief Justice Kemaluddin

Hossain, former Chief Justice Badrul Haider Chowdhury. Justice T H Khan. Justice Mustafa Kamal, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Kazi Golam Mahbub, Dr Kamal Hossain, legal expert Gazi Shamsur Rahman. Justice Ruhul Islam. Advocate Sablta Ranjan Pal. former Foreign Secretary Tobarak Hossain. Khandaker Mahbub Uddin and Memorial Council secretary Barrister Mohammad All.

A message from President Abdur Rahman Biswas was read out at the beginning of the discussion.

The meeting was followed by a. munajat seeking divine blessings for the peace of the departed soul.