Seminar on judicial activism held at DIU

SEMINAR titled “Judicial Activism & Judicial Self Restraint”, organised by the faculty of law, Dhaka International University (DIU) was held on 22 February. Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, Vice-Chairman, Board of Trustees, DIU presided over the seminar while Dr. Adish C Agarwala, President, International Council of Jurists & Chairman, All India Bar Association addressed the seminar as chief guest and key note speaker of the seminar.  Among others Rofiqur Rahman Patwari, Retired District & Sessions Judge; Asst. Prof. Mily Sultana, Chairperson (Acting), Dept. of Law; Raisul Islam Sourav, Coordinator, Dept. of Law; Proctor and faculty members of Law Department were also present at the seminar.

Barrister Shameem Patwary exchanged his views on Judicial Activism, Judicial Self Restraint and Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in Bangladesh & India. Apart from Judges and lawyers, law students can play vital role to protect public interest, he added. He discussed on requirement of filing PIL and historical development of PIL in India & Bangladesh. At the time he respectfully remembered Justice Vaidyanathapura Rama Krishna Iyer, who was a pioneer of strengthening PIL in Indian sub-continent.  Barrister Patwary also told the necessity of judicial self restraint to ensure separation of powers.  

Dr. Adish C Agarwala, Senior Advocate of Indian Supreme Court then delivered his speech to the students of law of DIU. He emphasised on goals of Judicial Activism & PIL. This time he mention present scenario of Indian public interest litigation and made a comparison between Indian & Bangladeshi PIL. 

The president of International Council of Jurists shared his experiences to deal with various types of public interest litigation in his country with the students. Besides judicial activism & PIL, Dr. Agarwala focused on various socio-economic issues of India & Bangladesh. 

The writer is  Senior Lecturer of Law, Dhaka International University.