A government Secretary has secured allotment of a house at Dhaka’s Minto Road from the Ministry of Public Works though it was sought by a High Court judge, who takes precedence over the official.
Supreme Court Registrar AKM Shamsul Islam has alleged ‘partiality’ in allotment of the house.
He told bdnews24.com on Thursday: “Judges enjoy priority in many cases.”
The house was not allotted to anyone anew when it was sought for the High Court judge. “In that case, he could have got the house. But that didn’t happen.”
Islam mentioned that in the warrant of precedence, the position of a High Court judge is ninth and a Secretary to the government comes 16th.
The judge who sought the house took oath on Apr 18, 2010 as an Additional Judge of the High Court and was confirmed two years later. He is now performing as the senior judge of a two-member bench hearing writ petitions.
The Supreme Court Registrar said a letter, signed by Deputy Registrar Sheikh Hafizur Rahman, was sent to the Housing and Public Works Secretary on Sep 6, 2010 seeking a house for the judge.
Stating that the judge was living in a rented house, the letter read: “The owner of the house has requested (the judge) to vacate the house. That’s why he wishes to have allotment of a government house near the Supreme Court.”
On Jul 8, 2012, Supreme Court Additional Registrar Mohammad Shawkat Ali Chowdhury sent the second letter to the Public Works Secretary with the same plea.
The second letter read: “A letter was sent earlier about the matter. But no response was received. In such a situation, you are again requested to allot a government house against his name on an urgent basis.”
Supreme Court Deputy Registrar Md Shahjahan Kabir sent a third letter on Nov 8 last year to the Secretary mentioning that the judge wished to have the house at 12 Minto Road, near the court.
But the house was allotted on Nov 20 to Industries Secretary Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah, who is now living in another government house.
When contacted, Government Housing Directorate’s acting Director Md Habibur Rahman told bdnews24.com: “There are guidelines for government house allotment. The house at 12 Minto Road has been allotted as per the guidelines.”
Asked if it has been fair to allot the house to a person over whom the High Court judge takes precedence, he said: “I’ve heard there are some problems with the house. But I cannot say it clearly. Actually, the allotment is not in my knowledge.”
An official of the Directorate, Awlad Hossain, said the Minto Road house has been vacant as Iqbal Mahmud, a senior government official living there, was transferred outside Dhaka. He said the Industries Secretary is shifting to the house shortly.
Source: Bd news24