ACTS OF GHANA

THE JUDICIAL SERVICE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1965 (ACT 281)

JUDICIAL SERVICE DECREE, 1966 (NLCD 83)2

JUDICIAL SERVICE (AMENDMENT) LAW, 1984 (PNDCL 85)3

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Section

PART I—STRUCTURE  OF THE SERVICE

 1.  Members of the Judicial Service.

 2. Circuit Judges.

 3. Judicial Secretary.

 4. District Magistrates.

 5. Creation of further posts.

PART II—FILLING OF VACANCIES

 6. Methods of filling vacancies.

 7. Appointing authorities.

 8. Principles for filling vacancies.

 9. Appointment procedure.

9A.Past Appointments to Terminate Unless Expressly Continued.

9B. Provisional Appointing and Disciplinary Authorities.

10. Limited Engagements.

11. Probationary and trial periods.

12. Acting assignments.

12A Former Judge of Superior Court may Practise as Lawyer.

PART III—CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF JUDICIAL AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

13. Regulation of conditions of service.

14. Schemes of service of executive officers.

15. Training of executive officers.

PART IV—MISCONDUCT OF JUDICIAL AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

16. General definition of misconduct.

17. Penalties.

18. Disciplinary authorities.

19. Proceedings for misconduct.

20. Conduct of disciplinary proceedings.

PART V—LEAVING THE SERVICE

21. Modes of leaving the service.

22. Compulsory retirement.

23. Voluntary retirement.

24. Retirement for medical reasons.

25. Transfer on approved employment.

26. Abolition of post.

27.  Discharge of non-pensionable staff.

PART VI—MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTAL

28. Official language.

29. Annual report.

30. Legal proceedings.

31. Power to make regulations and issue instructions.

32. Interpretation.

33. Transitional provisions.

33A Repeals

34. Commencement.

34A. Commencement.

AN ACT

OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY OF GHANA

ENTITLED

THE JUDICIAL SERVICE ACT, 1960

AN ACT to provide for the creation of Judicial Service posts, for the appointment, promotion and retirement of members of the Judicial Service and for conditions of service, disciplinary proceedings and other matters relating to the Judicial Service.

DATE OF PASSING: 29th June, 1960

WHEREAS by section 2 of the Constituent Assembly and Plebiscite Act, 1960 (No. 1) this Constituent Assembly is authorised to enact such provisions for or in connection with the establishment of a new Constitution as it thinks fit:

AND WHEREAS it is expedient to enact the provisions hereinafter appearing in consequence of the enactment of the Constitution:

NOW THEREFORE, be it enacted by the Constituent Assembly as follows:—

PART I—STRUCTURE OF THE SERVICE

Section 1—Members of the Judicial Service.

(1) The following shall be members of the Judicial Service:—

(a)  the Chief Justice as head of the Judicial Service;

(b)  the other Judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature;

(c)  other Judges and Magistrates and the Judicial Secretary; and

(d) persons holding posts created under any other enactment being designated by law as Judicial Service posts.;[As substituted by Judicial Service Decree, 1966 (NLCD 83) s.1(a)]

Section 2—Circuit Judges.

There shall be a circuit Judge for each Circuit Court established under the Courts Act, 1960 (C.A. 9).

Section 3—Judicial Secretary.

There shall be a Judicial Secretary, who shall be responsible to the Chief Justice for securing the general efficiency of the Judicial Service.

Section 4—District Magistrates.

There shall be a District Magistrate for each District established under section 47 of the Courts Act, 1960 (C.A.9).

Section 5—Creation of Further Posts.

(1) In addition to the established posts created by sections 2 to 4 of this Act, regulations may provide for the creation of further established or unestablished Judicial Service posts, including additional posts of Circuit Judges and District Magistrates.

(2) Regulations creating established posts shall specify in relation to each post the name of the post, the salary or salary scale attached to the post and the complement, that is the number of posts constituting the grade in question.

(3) Regulations creating unestablished posts shall specify in relation to each post the name of the post and the salary attached to the post.

(4) Regulations may designate any established or unestablished posts in the executive grade of the Judicial Service as Civil Service Posts.

(5) Without prejudice to section 6 of this Act posts in the Judicial Service designated as Civil Service Posts shall be filled by officers from the Civil Service seconded to the Judicial Service.

(6) For the purposes of discipline, an officer seconded to the Judicial Service shall be deemed to be a holder of a Judicial Service Post.

PART II—FILLING OF VACANCIES

Section 6—Methods of Filling Vacancies.

(1) A vacancy in a Judicial Service post may be filled—

(a) by promotion, that is by appointing a person who is to be moved from another post in the Judicial Service with an immediate increase in his salary;

(b) by recruitment, that is by appointing a person who is not a member of the Judicial Service or who would cease to be a member of the Judicial Service if the appointment were not made.

(2) In addition to the methods mentioned in subsection  (1) of this section, a vacancy in the post of a judicial officer or an executive officer may be filled—

(a) by transfer within the service, that is by appointing a person who is to be moved from another post in the Judicial Service with no alteration in his salary;

(b) on reduction in rank, that is by appointing a person who is to be moved from another post in the Judicial Service with an immediate reduction in his salary.

Section 7—Appointing Authorities.

(1) The authority empowered to fill vacancies in a Judicial Service post shall be known as the appointing authority for that post.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, the National Liberation Council shall be the appointing authority for all Judicial Service posts:

Provided that in the exercise of its powers as appointing authority, the National Liberation Council shall act on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, except in respect of the office of Chief Justice.

(3) Regulations may provide for the delegation by the National Liberation Council, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, of its power to fill vacancies in the post of any judicial officer to the Judicial Service Commission and in relation to posts to which the delegation applies the Judicial Service Commission shall be the appointing authority.

(4) Regulations may provide for the delegation by the National Liberation Council subject to such conditions as may be prescribed of its power to fill vacancies in the post of any executive officer to a Board consisting of the Chief Justice or a Justice of Appeal nominated by the Chief Justice as Chairman, and one High Court Judge, one Circuit Court Judge and the Judicial Secretary and in relation to posts to which the delegation applies, the Board shall be the appointing authority.;[As substituted by Judicial Service Decree, 1966 (NLCD 83) s.1(b)]

Section 8—Principles for Filling Vacancies.

(1) Appointments and promotions shall be according to merit.

(2) Where practicable, a vacancy in a Judicial Service post other than a post in the Supreme Court of Judicature, shall be filled either by promotion or transfer within the Service.

(3) No person shall be appointed to a post specified in column 1 of the following Table, unless his standing as a legal practitioner is at least that specified in column II of that Table.

 I          II          

Justice of Appeal                ..        ..        ..        ..      ..           ..         12 years        

Judge of the High Court       ..    ..       ..       ..         ..            ..         8 years          

Circuit Judge          ..     ..   ..        ..      .        .          ..            ..         5 years          

District Magistrate (Grade I).    ..   ..        ..      ..                              3 years          

District Magistrate (Grade II)..         ..       ..        ..               18 months     

(4) The Council on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission may appoint—

(a) a legal practitioner, who does not have the standing specified in the aforesaid Table, for an acting appointment to a post specified therein; and

(b) a person who is not qualified as a legal practitioner, as a District Magistrate (Grade II) upon a limited engagement.

(4A) No person shall be appointed to the post of Judicial Secretary unless he is a legal practitioner with considerable knowledge of and not less than ten years' experience in administration.[As substituted by Judicial Service (Amendment) Law, 1984 (PNDCL 85) s.1(b)]

(5) A person who to the knowledge of the appointing authority has attained the prescribed voluntary retiring age shall not be appointed by recruitment to the pensionable post of a judicial or executive officer otherwise than on a limited engagement:

Provided that this sub-paragraph shall not apply, if that person has such accrued entitlement to retirement benefits as may be prescribed.

(6) For the purposes of this paragraph, the period of a person's standing as a legal practitioner shall include any period during which that person has been qualified to practise law in a Commonwealth country, Ireland or in any other country having a system of law analogous to that prevailing in Ghana.;[As substituted by Judicial Service Decree, 1966 (NLCD 83) s.1(c)]

Section 9—Appointment Procedure.

(1) Appointments to the post of a judicial officer or executive officer shall be made by a letter of appointment addressed to the person appointed and signed by or on behalf of the appointing authority.

(2) A person not already holding a pensionable post shall not be  appointed to a pensionable post unless he has been medically examined and found to be fit to be appointed to pensionable service.

Section 9A—Past Appointments to Terminate Unless Expressly Continued.

All appointments made to Judicial Service posts in any Court constituted under the Courts Act, 1960 (C.A. 9) shall, with effect from the date on which this Decree, under the provisions of paragraphs 5 or 6, comes into force, be terminated, unless they are expressly continued by legislative instrument made under this paragraph of this Decree.[Inserted and to be cited as Judicial Service Decree, 1966 (NLCD 83) s.4]

Section 9B—Provisional Appointing and Disciplinary Authorities.

(1) Until the Judicial Service Commission referred to in this Decree is duly constituted, every appointment as a member of the Judicial Service established by the Judicial Service Act, 1960 (C.A. 10) shall be made by the National Liberation Council.

(2) Until the Judicial Service Commission referred to in this Decree is duly constituted, the National Liberation Council shall be the disciplinary authority for every member of the said Judicial Service, and such Council shall have the power to terminate the appointment of any such member from such date as may be specified in the letter to such member terminating his appointment.

(3) The provisions of this paragraph shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other provision of this Decree or any other enactment.[Inserted and to be cited as Judicial Service Decree, 1966 (NLCD 83) s.5]

Section 10—Limited Engagements.

(1) Where a vacancy in a Judicial Service post, not being the post of a Judge of a superior court or a Circuit Judge, is filled by recruitment the person recruited may, if the appointing authority thinks fit, be appointed on a limited engagement.

(2) The letter of appointment of a person appointed to a post on a limited engagement—

(a) shall specify the period of the engagement, that is the period for which it is contemplated that he will remain in the post;

(b) may provide that the provisions of this Act and of any statutory instrument made thereunder shall apply subject to such modifications as may be set out in the letter of appointment.

(3) Where a person who is not a citizen of Ghana agrees to be appointed on a limited engagement his letter of appointment shall, unless it otherwise provides, constitute a contract between the Republic and that person, and it shall be taken to be a term of the contract that the provisions of this Act and of any statutory instrument made thereunder shall apply in relation to that person subject to such modifications as may be set out in the letter of appointment.

(4) Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, the period of a limited engagement may be extended by the consent of the person serving under the engagement and the appointing authority.

Section 11—Probationary and Trial Periods.

(1) An appointment by recruitment to a pensionable post, not being the post of a Judge of a superior court or a Circuit Judge, shall be subject to satisfactory service in that post for a probationary period of three years.

(2) An appointment by promotion to a pensionable post, not being the post of a Judge of a superior court or a Circuit Judge, shall be subject to satisfactory service in that post for a trial period of such duration as may be specified in the letter of appointment.

(3) Where a post is held by a person on probation or on trial and it appears to the appointing authority at the end of the probationary or trial period, or at any time during that period, that the said person is unlikely to fulfil the requirements of the post, the appointing authority may provide for him to be transferred or reduced in rank, or, if he holds the post on probation, may order that he shall cease to be a member of the Judicial Service.

(4) The appointing authority for a post held by a person on probation or on trial may if he thinks fit reduce or extend the probationary or trial period.

Section 12—Acting Assignments.

(1) Where a Judicial Service post is vacant or the holder of the post is absent from duty for any reason the appointing authority for that post may assign a member of the Judicial Service or, in the case of the post of an executive officer, a public officer who has been seconded to the Judicial Service, to carry out the duties of the post.

(2) An assignment under this section shall cease to have effect—

(a) on the filling of the vacancy or the return to duty of the holder of the post, as the case may be; or

(b) if some other person is assigned to carry out the duties of the post; or

(c) if the assignment is revoked by the appointing authority.

Section 12A— Former Judge of Superior Court may Practise as Lawyer.

(1) A judge of a superior court who ceases to be a judge of that court by reason of his removal, retirement or resignation under Article 45 of the Constitution may practise as a lawyer in  Ghana subject to the provisions of the Legal Profession Act, 1960  (Act 32) and to the other provisions of this section. 

(2) Except where the President otherwise directs in writing in the case of any person, a judge referred to in subsection (1) of this section shall, in the exercise of his functions as a lawyer, neither appear before nor be heard by any court, judge in chambers or any tribunal performing judicial functions.

 (3) The President may give a direction under subsection (2) of this section at any time whether before, at, or after the time when the person in whose case the direction is given ceases to be a judge as described in subsection (1) of this section.

(4) Where the President gives a direction under subsection (2) of this section in the case of any person before that person first assumes office as a judge of a superior court, or at the commencement of his service as such a judge, the direction shall be irrevocable unless that person ceases to be a judge of a superior court by reason of his retirement or resignation.

PART III—CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF JUDICIAL AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Section 13—Regulation of Conditions of Service.

As respects a judicial officer or an executive officer, regulations or Judicial Service instructions may provide—

(a)  for the determination, subject to the salary or salary scale attached to his post, of the salary payable to the officer;

 (b) for regulating the award of increments of salary, and the payment of allowances and other additional remuneration;

(c) for regulating hours of work and the granting of leave with or without pay or allowances;

(d) for making available to the officer (with or without charge) housing accommodation, medical treatment or other facilities;

(e) for regulating the presentation of petitions; and

(f) for other matters relating to his conditions of service.

Section 14—Schemes of Service of Executive Officers.

(1) The Chief Justice may require the Judicial Secretary to prepare, in relation to all or any of the posts of executive officers, a scheme of service giving details of the duties assigned to the posts, modes of entry and qualifications required, prospects of promotion, training facilities and other matters relating to service as an executive officer.

(2) No scheme of service made under subsection (1) of this section shall be promulgated without the consent of the National Liberation Council, given after consultation with the Chief Justice.;[As substituted by Judicial Service Decree 1966 (NLCD 83) s.1(c)]

Section 15—Training of Executive Officers.

(1) There shall be a branch of the Judicial Service with the function of supervising and co-ordinating, under the general direction of the Chief Justice, arrangements for the training of executive officers.

(2) Subject to subsection (1) of this section, it is the duty of the Judicial Secretary to secure, so far as is practicable, that facilities exist, and are used, to enable executive officers to undergo such training as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of their posts and for enabling them to qualify for advancement within the service.

PART IV—MISCONDUCT OF JUDICIAL AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Section 16—General Definition of Misconduct.

Any act done without reasonable excuse by a judicial officer  or executive officer which amounts to a failure to perform in a  proper manner any duty imposed upon him as such, or which contravenes any enactment relating to the Judicial Service, or which is otherwise prejudicial to the efficient conduct of the Judicial Service or tends to bring the Judicial Service into disrepute shall constitute misconduct.

Section 17—Penalties.

(1) The following are the penalties that may be imposed in disciplinary proceedings under this Part of this Act in respect of the misconduct or unsatisfactory service of a judicial officer or executive officer—

(a) dismissal, that is termination of an appointment with forfeiture of all retirement benefits;

(b) removal, that is termination of an appointment with or without a reduction in retirement benefits;

(c) reduction in rank, that is removal to another rank with an immediate reduction of salary;

(d) reduction of salary, that is an immediate adjustment of salary to a lower point on the salary scale attached to the post in question;

(e) deferment of increment, that is a postponement of the date on which the next increment  is due, with corresponding postponements in subsequent years;

(f) stoppage of increment, that is non-payment for a specified period of an increment otherwise due;

(g) in the case of executive officers, suspension from duty with consequent loss of pay and allowances for a period not exceeding fourteen days.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, dismissal, removal and reduction in rank shall be treated as major penalties and all other penalties shall be treated as minor penalties.

Section 18—Disciplinary Authorities.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the National Liberation Council shall be the disciplinary authority for all judicial officers and executive officers:

Provided that in the exercise of its powers as disciplinary authority, the National Liberation Council shall act on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, except in respect of the office of Chief Justice.

(2) Regulations may provide, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed for the delegation by the National Liberation Council of its disciplinary powers as respects all or any of the posts of judicial officers to the Judicial Service Commission, and in relation to posts to which the delegation applies the Judicial Service Commission shall be the disciplinary authority.

(3) Regulations made under section 31, may provide subject to such conditions as may be prescribed therein, for the delegation by the National Liberation Council of its disciplinary powers as respects the posts of all or any executive officers to the Chief Justice and in relation to posts to which the delegation applies the Chief Justice shall be the disciplinary authority:

Provided that the Chief Justice may, subject to such conditions as he may think fit, delegate any disciplinary power conferred on him under this subsection to the Judicial Secretary;[As substituted by Judicial Service Decree, 1966 (NLCD 83) s.1(e)]

Section 19—Proceedings for Misconduct.

(1) Disciplinary proceedings in the case of misconduct shall be either summary or formal.

(2) No major penalty shall be imposed on a pensionable officer in summary proceedings not arising out of a conviction.

Section 20—Conduct of Disciplinary Proceedings.

(1) Regulations shall be made providing for the conduct of disciplinary proceedings in cases of misconduct or unsatisfactory service.

(2) Regulations made under this section governing cases of misconduct shall include provision—

(a) requiring a written charge to be preferred in all proceedings;

(b) enabling the accused in formal proceedings to call appropriate witnesses;

(c) enabling persons to be compelled to give evidence or produce exhibits in formal proceedings;

(d) requiring that no major penalty imposed on a judicial officer shall take effect unless confirmed by the National Liberation Council acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission;[As substituted by Judicial Service Decree 1966 (NLCD 83) s.1(f)]

(e) enabling the accused in any proceedings to appeal against any decision involving the imposition of a penalty not being a decision requiring confirmation by the National Liberation Council under paragraph (d) of this subsections;[As substituted by Judicial Service Decree 1966 (NLCD 83) s.1(f)]

(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act and except as may be otherwise provided by regulations, the authority by whom an appeal is decided under this section may make such order thereon as he thinks fit.

PART V—LEAVING THE SERVICE

Section 21—Modes of Leaving the Service.

(1) A judge of a superior court may leave the Judicial Service on removal, retirement or resignation under paragraph 1 of this Decree.;[As substituted by Judicial Service Decree, 1966 (NLCD 83) s.1(g)]

(2) The modes by which a judicial officer or executive officer may leave the service are as follows:—

(a) on dismissal or removal in consequence of disciplinary proceedings;

(b) on compulsory retirement;

(c) on voluntary retirement;

(d) on retirement for medical reasons;

(e) on resignation in accordance with such conditions as may be prescribed;

(f) on the expiry or other termination of a limited engagement;

(g) on transfer on approved employment;

(h) on the abolition of his post;

(i) in the case of an officer on probation, on the making of an order under subsection (3) of section 11 of this Act.

(j) in the case of an officer holding a non-pensionable post, on being discharged by his appointing authority.

Section 22—Compulsory Retirement.

(1) A person holding a pensionable post otherwise than on a limited engagement shall retire from the service on reaching the prescribed compulsory retiring age:

Provided that this section shall not prevent the appointment of any person on a limited engagement.

Section 23—Voluntary Retirement.

A person holding, otherwise than a limited engagement, a pensionable post as a judicial officer or executive officer may retire from service at any time after he has reached the prescribed voluntary retiring age, or with the consent of the Judicial Service Commission.;[As substituted by  Judicial Service Decree, 1966 (NLCD 83) s.1(h)]

Section 24—Retirement for Medical Reasons.

A judicial officer or executive officer shall retire from the service if, in accordance with the prescribed procedure, it is found that he is incapable by reason of infirmity of mind or body of discharging the duties of his post and that the infirmity is likely to be permanent.

Section 25—Transfer on Approved Employment.

Regulations may be made for the transfer of a judicial officer or executive officer to employment in another Public Service or to other approved employment:

Provided that an officer shall not be transferred under this section unless he consents to the transfer.

Section 26—Abolition of Post.

(1) Where a post in a grade is abolished by the repeal or amendment of the enactment by which it was created, the appointing authority shall, if two or more persons hold posts in that grade, determine which of those persons is to be treated as the person whose post is abolished.

(2) Unless the person in respect of whom a determination is to be made under subsection (1) of this section is to be promoted or transferred, he shall be afforded an opportunity to make representations to the appointing authority, who shall consider any such representations before making the determination.

Section 27—Discharge of Non-Pensionable Staff.

(1) The appointing authority may discharge a person holding a non-pensionable post—

(a) on the ground that he is physically incapable of performing the duties of the post; or

(b) where he has not held a Judicial Service post during the whole of the preceding twelve months, on the ground that he is generally unsuitable for the post; or

(c) on the ground that the post is no longer required to be occupied.

(2) Where a person is discharged under this section the appointing authority shall furnish him with a statement in writing of the ground on which he is discharged.

PART VI—MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTAL

Section 28—Official Language.

The official language of the Judicial Service is English and accordingly all written and oral communications, examination questions and answers, and other transactions of the Judicial Service shall be expressed in that language.

Section 29—Annual Report.

(1) As soon as may be after the 30th June in each year the  Judicial Secretary shall prepare a report giving details of the  administration of the Judicial Service during the previous twelve months.

(2) The report shall be submitted by the Judicial Secretary to the Chief Justice, who shall transmit it to the National Liberation Council. The Chief Justice, shall also transmit a copy thereof to the Judicial Service Commission.; and[As substituted by Judicial Service Decree, 1966 (NLCD 83) s.1(i)]

Section 30—Legal Proceedings.

Except in relation to contracts subsisting by virtue of section 10 of this Act, no proceedings shall be brought in any Court on the ground only that compliance has not been made with this Act or any statutory instrument thereunder:

Provided that this section shall not prevent the institution of any criminal proceedings in respect of any offence under such an instrument.

Section 31—Power to Make Regulations.

(1) The National Liberation Council acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission may by legislative instrument make regulations providing for any matter which under this Act is to be provided for by regulations or in respect of any matter which is to be prescribed or which otherwise relates to the administration of the Judicial Service.[As substituted by Judicial Service Decree, 1966 (NLCD 83) s.1(j)]

Section 32—Interpretation.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

"executive officer", means a member of the Judicial Service who is neither a Judge of a superior court nor a judicial officer, and is the holder of a post designated by regulations as the post of an executive officer;

"grade" means a series of established or unestablished posts with the same title and salary or salary scale;

"judicial officer" means a Circuit Judge, the Judicial Secretary, a District Magistrate, or a holder of a post designated by  regulations as the post of a judicial officer;

"pensionable post" means a post service in which is pensionable service under the enactments relating to Judicial Service pensions, and "non-Pensionable post" shall be construed accordingly;

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations or instructions made under section 31 of this Act;

"salary" includes wages;

"vacancy " includes a prospective vacancy.

Section 33—Transitional Provisions.

Regulations may be made—

(a) for the continued application to executive officers, subject to such modifications as may be prescribed, of the Public Service Commission Regulations, 1957, General Orders and any other provisions applicable to such officers immediately before the commencement of this Act;

(b) for continuing as appointments to posts created by or under this Act, appointments made before the commencement thereof;

(c) for making such amendments in the enactments relating to Judicial Service pensions as may be necessary in consequence of the provisions of this Act;

(d) for such other matters (including the repeal or amendment of enactments) as may need to be provided for in consequence of the passing of this Act.

Section 33A—Repeals.

The Judicial Service Act, 1960 (Amendment) Decree, 1966 (N.L.C.D. 39) and the Judicial Service Act, 1960 (Amendment) (No. 2) Decree, 1966 (N.L.C.D. 58) are hereby revoked without prejudice to anything done under those Decrees; and the alterations made in the said Act by these Decrees shall cease to have effect.[Inserted and to be cited as Judicial Service Decree, 1966 (NLCD 83) s.6]

Section 34—Commencement.

This Act shall come into operation at the same time as the Constitution.

Section 34A—Commencement.

(1) This Decree, other than the provisions of paragraphs 5 and 6, shall come into force at the same time as the Courts Decree, 1966.

(2) Paragraphs 5 and 6 of this Decree shall come into force on the date the Decree is made and signed by the Chairman of the National Liberation Council.[Inserted and to be cited as Judicial Service Decree, 1966 (NLCD 83) s.7]