The Bar Council has called for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) this October to discuss the appointment and promotion of judges, said its chairperson Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari today.

He said the decision was made at a meeting on Aug 2 where majority of the council members felt that the issue should be discussed further with members of the Bar as it affects the legal profession.

"The issue came out during the council meeting last Saturday and, the majority decided that an EGM will be held on Oct 4 to discuss the issue," he said when contacted.

However, the agenda and the meeting event have yet to be decided, he added.

On July 24, Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim defended the promotion of the junior judges - Justices Pajan Singh Gill, Arifin Jaka and Augustine Paul - stating that the promotion was not based on seniority alone but on ability, integrity and experience as well.

Ahmad Fairuz said that he knew the judges better than the lawyers and added that "they (the lawyers) know the judges when they go to court. But I know the judges more than that. I now about their personal lives."

The promotion drew fire from lawyers who felt that the entire process lacked propriety.

Prior to the promotions, the council on July 5 had expressed its concern over the issue and urged the judiciary not to discard the traditional approach to promotion with reference to seniority.

Bar-Bench relationship

Meanwhile, Kuthubul expressed hope that lawyers would make effort so that the one-third quorum quota will be met - a condition that must be fulfilled before an EGM can commence.

"We'll see what happens on that day, but I think there should be enough to meet the quorum as the issues relating to the appointment of judges do affect the legal profession," he said.

He also dismissed the possibility of the emergency meet straining the relationship between the Bar and the Bench.

"Well, we are doing this for the good of the judiciary and the legal profession. We want to look at various aspects of promotions and elevations, including the process and procedures, objectively. We are only seeking improvement," he said.

He also said that it was unlikely that any serious objections would be raised similar to what had happened in 1999 when the council called for an EGM to discuss the improprieties of judges and the judiciary.

(In November 1999, lawyer K Raja Segaran was granted an injunction to stop the Bar EGM from discussing the motion that the government set up a tribunal to investigate the improper conduct of the then Chief Justice Mohd Eusoff Chin's holiday in New Zealand, purportedly with lawyer V K Lingam)

"I don't think that the same thing is going to happen. This is just a professional discussion on a general topic which concerns us all," said Kuthubul.