Falling standard of public education and lack of adequate training, experience and a< countability have adversely al ter ted the standard of the Ju dicial process in the country observed Justice Naimuddln acting Chairman of the Law Reforms Commission (LRC)

The LRC has been const! luted to update the age old laws of the country modernise the system of management of c ourts and recommend repeal or amendment to laws vioiat ing the fundamental rights of the people said the acting chairman

The LRC was formed through an executive decision gazetted on April 7 1994 Sources said a bill in this re gard is likely to be placed in the Jatiya Sangsad soon to make the commission a per maoent statutory body

The Commission has been mandated to examine the obsolete outdated, oppressive laws and recommend repeal or amendment to those to keep pace with the modern world

It has also been empowered to recommend enactment of laws or amendment to the ex 1 sting ones to encourage in- vestment. attract foreign In vestment and to examine laxa tion and company laws

To improve the manage merit ol courts, the Commis slon has been empowered to recommend measure* for training ol the Judicial officers and advocate* and alao to And out the cause* ol delay In dl* po*al ol case*

Justice Nainiuddin. talking Io rhe Dally Star said a Judi rial training InsUtute has al ready been established a* an autonomous body with Justice liadruzzaman as It* head

Quoting a study on the causes of delay Nainiuddin said "Actual judicial work is not performed for more than two hours a day on an average There la also a lack of account ability and supervision at dlf ierenl levels

A four-member committee with Justice ATM Afzal as chairman carried out a study titled Report on the causes of delay in disposal of cases and recommendation for their elimination and better man agement of courts’ in 1989 The committee visiting various court* and scrutinising the drfound that the system needed to be streamlined. Naimuddin added the findings of the report published In 1989 are still relevant."

"Lack of commitment and dedication on the part of the judicial personnel, besides the lack of accountability are the root causes for delay in disposal of cages." the report mentioned. "Even In metropo Utan areas, such as Dhaka city, very few presiding Judges take their seat punctually at 10:00 am and rise at 4:30 pm, and naidty any praaiding judges work after lunch." it pointed

"Barring some exceptions at the senior level, it has been found to be the uniform practice in all subordinate courts of the country that not more than two hours judicial work is done each day in the court." the report said.

Alarming lack of supervl Sion at all stages in the subordinate courts was also pointed out. The default made by the district judges in this respect being the most disturbing", the report noted.

There has been practically no inspection, no accountability over the last few years and indiscipline sterns to plague most of the original courts, it said. The judges in-charge of individual courts and departments do not exercise effective supervision over work of their staff as provided in the rules." it adcjgd.