HC moves to introduce research associates for judges

The High Court on Tuesday directed the formation of a committee to formulate recommendations for appointing research associates to assist judges of the High Court Division. 

A bench comprising Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the order.

Senior lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir appeared for the petitioner, assisted by lawyer Mohammad Saddam Hossain. The Deputy Attorney General representing the state was present at the hearing.

During the hearing, Shishir said higher courts in developed countries have long had systems for appointing skilled research associates to assist judges.

Such assistance helps judges find relevant legal precedents and references, speeds up legal research and contributes to the speedy disposal of cases, he said.

“Introducing such a structure is now a demand of the time,” Shishir said.

The court directed the formation of a high-level committee to formulate recommendations for appointing research associates or legal assistants to assist judges in conducting judicial proceedings and improving the quality of adjudication in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.

According to the court’s order, the committee will formulate recommendations on the qualifications and criteria for selecting highly meritorious law graduates as research associates, their tenure and responsibilities, the recruitment process, and a framework for assisting judges with legal research.

It will also recommend their salaries, allowances and administrative structure.

The committee will submit its recommendations within a short period, based on which a policy for appointing research associates in the High Court Division may subsequently be finalised.