Outgoing Supreme Court Justice Mirza Hussain Haider yesterday urged all to refrain from doing anything that might stigmatise the Supreme Court, which he termed the symbol of justice.

"I think the country's judicial system will be more matured and improved with coordinated efforts of all. Collective and coordinated efforts are prerequisite for ensuring justice. So everyone that's involved with judiciary, must work intensively in a coordinated manner. Unity among all from lower grade employees to senior officials of courts is essential to ensure justice," he said.

The justice made the remarks while delivering a speech at his virtual farewell reception in which Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, other justices of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Attorney General Abu Mohammad Amin Uddin and senior lawyers joined.

About independence of the judiciary, he said, "Constitutionally the judiciary is independent. But we all know and understand how independent the judiciary really is. The jurisdictions [that are] the state's three organs — the executive, the legislature and the judiciary — have been defined by the constitution. Directives have been given to the three organs to work as complementary to one another. It has been determined by the constitution which organ will do what, so that none can cross their limit."

He also urged all not to make any court verdict controversial without knowing the law in details.

"On many occasions, criticism is raised over the legal explanation given by the judiciary.  In many cases, judges and and the judiciary are being considered the same.  But we forget that a judge is also a human being," he added.

Justice Mirza Hussain Haider completed his law education from Dhaka University and enrolled as an advocate of the district court, the High Court Division and the Appellate Division of Bangladesh Supreme Court in 1979, 1981 and 1999 respectively.

He was appointed as additional judge of the High Court Division in 2001. Later in 2003, he was regularised in the same Division. Finally, he was elevated to the Appellate Division in 2016.